Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 12 of 21 categories
San Francisco
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,764
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 Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,925 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Property crime (3929.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $788k less ($560,400 vs $1,348,700)
51% less violent crime than San Francisco
8% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Rent averages $175/mo less ($2,141 vs $2,316)
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $29,925/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$29,925
$136,689 vs $106,764/yr
Vacaville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Vacaville
Violent Crime
51% lower
293.2 vs 596.5 per 100k
Vacaville
Median Home Value
$788k less
$560,400 vs $1,348,700
Vacaville
Summer Heat
33.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $560,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $2,141⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $106,764 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vacaville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 12 of 21 categories. San Francisco wins 9 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 Francisco to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $560,400 median home), income ($136,689 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Vacaville, CA are about 72 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.