Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Angelo, TX
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 San Angelo leads 12 of 22 categories
San Angelo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,040
Violent Crime Index
57 ✓ Safer
Population
99,422 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Angelo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $451k less ($171,700 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $965/mo less ($1,037 vs $2,002)
31% less violent crime than Vista
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.2%)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Violent crime is well below the national average (218.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $23,675/yr
Property crime (2486.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,675 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than San Angelo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Angelo
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
San Angelo
Violent Crime
31% lower
218.2 vs 316.4 per 100k
San Angelo
Median Home Value
$451k less
$171,700 vs $622,900
San Angelo
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
San Angelo
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Income
$23,675
$88,715 vs $65,040/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Angelo, TX | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,700 ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,037 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,040 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 11.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 82 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 27.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.1% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SAN ANGELO ISD | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.1°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,422 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.0% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Angelo's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
San Angelo is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Angelo leads 12 of 22 categories. San Angelo wins 12 and Vista 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 San Angelo to Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,700 vs $622,900 median home), income ($65,040 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Angelo, TX and Vista, CA are about 987 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.