Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Kenosha
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Vacaville
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
101,631 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $366k less ($194,400 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $1062/mo less ($1,079 vs $2,141)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $41,801/yr
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,801 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Kenosha
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$366k less
$194,400 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$41,801
$106,764 vs $64,963/yr
Vacaville
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 101,631 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Kenosha is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Kenosha wins 11 and Vacaville wins 11. 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 Kenosha to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $560,400 median home), income ($64,963 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Vacaville, CA are about 1,803 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.