Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Providence leads 13 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($293,000 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $680/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,894)
63% less violent crime than Vallejo
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $24,747/yr
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,747 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°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
Providence
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
63% lower
276.7 vs 739.8 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$223k less
$293,000 vs $515,500
Vallejo
Median Income
$24,747
$86,112 vs $61,365/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Providence is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 13 of 23 categories. Providence wins 13 and Vallejo wins 10. 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 Providence to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $515,500 median home), income ($61,365 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Vallejo, CA are about 2,665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.