Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salt Lake City, UT
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 12 of 23 categories
Salt Lake City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Rent averages $887/mo less ($1,254 vs $2,141)
Homes cost $102k less ($458,600 vs $560,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $34,407/yr
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Vacaville, CA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Households earn $34,407 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Salt Lake City
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Home Value
$102k less
$458,600 vs $560,400
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Vacaville
Median Income
$34,407
$106,764 vs $72,357/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
66% lower
293.2 vs 864.2 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 91.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $458,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,254 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,357 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.9% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.2% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salt Lake District | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.7" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,269 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salt Lake City's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 12 of 23 categories. Salt Lake City wins 11 and Vacaville wins 12. 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 Salt Lake City to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,600 vs $560,400 median home), income ($72,357 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salt Lake City, UT and Vacaville, CA are about 560 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.