Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Mesa leads 15 of 22 categories
Mesa
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
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.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $233k less ($327,700 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $789/mo less ($1,352 vs $2,141)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $32,998/yr
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,998 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Mesa
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Mesa
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$233k less
$327,700 vs $560,400
Mesa
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 95.0°F
Vacaville
Median Income
$32,998
$106,764 vs $73,766/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
39% lower
293.2 vs 482.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mesa leads 15 of 22 categories. Mesa wins 15 and Vacaville wins 7. 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 Mesa to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $560,400 median home), income ($73,766 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Vacaville, CA are about 668 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.