Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Lancaster leads 12 of 22 categories
Lancaster
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $147k less ($368,800 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $318/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,894)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vallejo by $14,745/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Vallejo
Vallejo, CA
Pros
11% less violent crime than Lancaster
Households earn $14,745 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (7.0%)
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 98°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$147k less
$368,800 vs $515,500
Lancaster
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Vallejo
Median Income
$14,745
$86,112 vs $71,367/yr
Vallejo
Violent Crime
11% lower
739.8 vs 834.7 per 100k
Vallejo
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
7.0% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vallejo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lancaster leads 12 of 22 categories. Lancaster wins 12 and Vallejo wins 10. 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 Lancaster to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $515,500 median home), income ($71,367 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Vallejo, CA are about 327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.