Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 13 of 22 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Vacaville
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $398k less ($162,000 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $1224/mo less ($917 vs $2,141)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $55,241/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,241 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Roanoke
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Roanoke
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$398k less
$162,000 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$55,241
$106,764 vs $51,523/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
53% lower
293.2 vs 620.4 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Vacaville
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 88.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 101,631 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 13 of 22 categories. Roanoke wins 9 and Vacaville wins 13. 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 Roanoke to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $560,400 median home), income ($51,523 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Vacaville, CA are about 2,274 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.