Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New Orleans, LA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories
New Orleans
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
11
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.
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($281,500 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $979/mo less ($1,162 vs $2,141)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $55,648/yr
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 5.4%)
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,648 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than New Orleans
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
New Orleans
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$279k less
$281,500 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$55,648
$106,764 vs $51,116/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
80% lower
293.2 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.4% unemployment
Vacaville
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New Orleans, LA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $281,500 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,162 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,116 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 316⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 380⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.7% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.7% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.1" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 380,408 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.3% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New Orleans's cost of living index is 91.1 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories. New Orleans wins 12 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 New Orleans to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($281,500 vs $560,400 median home), income ($51,116 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New Orleans, LA and Vacaville, CA are about 1,907 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.