Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Peoria leads 20 of 22 categories
Peoria
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($383,600 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $503/mo less ($1,638 vs $2,141)
13% less violent crime than Vacaville
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $20,005/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,005 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.9%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Peoria
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Violent Crime
13% lower
254.7 vs 293.2 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$177k less
$383,600 vs $560,400
Peoria
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.4% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 95.0°F
Vacaville
Median Income
$20,005
$106,764 vs $86,759/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 91.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 66.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 20 of 22 categories. Peoria wins 20 and Vacaville wins 2. 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 Peoria to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $560,400 median home), income ($86,759 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Vacaville, CA are about 625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.