Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Antonio, TX
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 San Antonio leads 15 of 23 categories
San Antonio
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,593
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,445,662 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Antonio, TX
Pros
Homes cost $318k less ($198,000 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $705/mo less ($1,189 vs $1,894)
20% less violent crime than Vallejo
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $26,519/yr
Violent crime (594.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4623.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,519 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°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 16% higher than San Antonio
Key Differences at a Glance
San Antonio
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.7 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
San Antonio
Violent Crime
20% lower
594.1 vs 739.8 per 100k
San Antonio
Median Home Value
$318k less
$198,000 vs $515,500
San Antonio
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.0% unemployment
San Antonio
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Income
$26,519
$86,112 vs $59,593/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Antonio, TX | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.7 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,000 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,189 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,593 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.5 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.7% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 83.8% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORTHSIDE ISD | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.0" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,445,662 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.9% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Antonio's cost of living index is 93.7 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
San Antonio is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Antonio leads 15 of 23 categories. San Antonio 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 San Antonio to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,000 vs $515,500 median home), income ($59,593 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Antonio, TX and Vallejo, CA are about 1,483 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.