Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 12 of 23 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Vallejo
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $302k less ($213,300 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $669/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,894)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $28,958/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,958 more per year on average
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$302k less
$213,300 vs $515,500
Vallejo
Median Income
$28,958
$86,112 vs $57,154/yr
Vallejo
Violent Crime
2% lower
739.8 vs 752.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 12 of 23 categories. Portsmouth wins 12 and Vallejo 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 Portsmouth to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $515,500 median home), income ($57,154 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Vallejo, CA are about 2,492 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.