Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, CA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Richmond
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Vallejo
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,112
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.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 85°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Property crime (2762.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vallejo, CA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Richmond
Homes cost $109k less ($515,500 vs $624,800)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
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
Richmond
Median Income
$506
$86,618 vs $86,112/yr
Vallejo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Vallejo
Violent Crime
20% lower
739.8 vs 923.1 per 100k
Vallejo
Median Home Value
$109k less
$515,500 vs $624,800
Vallejo
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 70.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, CA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $624,800⚠ High | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,618 ✓ Higher | $86,112 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 198⚠ High | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 79.4% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | West Contra Costa Unified | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.8°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,619 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vallejo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Richmond wins 11 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 Richmond to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,800 vs $515,500 median home), income ($86,618 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, CA and Vallejo, CA are about 12 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.