Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Bernardino, CA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 12 of 22 categories
San Bernardino
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ 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.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Rent averages $822/mo less ($1,319 vs $2,141)
Homes cost $213k less ($347,100 vs $560,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $45,441/yr
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 5.4%)
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,441 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Key Differences at a Glance
San Bernardino
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$213k less
$347,100 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$45,441
$106,764 vs $61,323/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
67% lower
293.2 vs 897.1 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Bernardino, CA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,319 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,323 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.1% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 197⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 236⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 12.8% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 72.5% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Bernardino City Unified | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 95.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.6" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 221,041 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 31.2 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.9% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Bernardino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
San Bernardino is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 12 of 22 categories. San Bernardino wins 10 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 San Bernardino to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,100 vs $560,400 median home), income ($61,323 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Bernardino, CA and Vacaville, CA are about 391 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.