Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Roanoke leads 15 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Vallejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $354k less ($162,000 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $977/mo less ($917 vs $1,894)
16% less violent crime than Vallejo
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $34,589/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
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,589 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°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
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Roanoke
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Violent Crime
16% lower
620.4 vs 739.8 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$354k less
$162,000 vs $515,500
Vallejo
Median Income
$34,589
$86,112 vs $51,523/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Vallejo, 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 | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 17.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 15 of 23 categories. Roanoke wins 15 and Vallejo wins 8. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $515,500 median home), income ($51,523 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Vallejo, CA are about 2,293 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.