Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 16 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $342/mo less ($1,799 vs $2,141)
Homes cost $60k less ($500,100 vs $560,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vacaville by $15,613/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Longer commutes — 37.0 min average each way
Vacaville, CA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Jersey City
Households earn $15,613 more per year on average
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 39°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Home Value
$60k less
$500,100 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Vacaville
Median Income
$15,613
$106,764 vs $91,151/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
48% lower
293.2 vs 561.6 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vacaville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 16 of 23 categories. Jersey City wins 7 and Vacaville wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Jersey City to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $560,400 median home), income ($91,151 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Vacaville, CA are about 2,526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.