Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 16 of 22 categories
Norwalk
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893 ✓ 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.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Rent averages $281/mo less ($1,860 vs $2,141)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Vacaville by $15,505/yr
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Vacaville
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Vacaville, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Norwalk
Households earn $15,505 more per year on average
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Homes cost $33k less ($560,400 vs $593,100)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Vacaville
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Vacaville
Median Income
$15,505
$106,764 vs $91,259/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
22% lower
293.2 vs 374.4 per 100k
Vacaville
Median Home Value
$33k less
$560,400 vs $593,100
Vacaville
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,100⚠ High | $560,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 66.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vacaville is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 16 of 22 categories. Norwalk wins 6 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 Norwalk to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $560,400 median home), income ($91,259 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Vacaville, CA are about 376 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.