Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Leandro, CA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 13 of 23 categories
San Leandro
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,723
Vancouver
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,515 more per year on average
6% less violent crime than Vancouver
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 81°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Homes cost $369k less ($403,400 vs $772,700)
Rent averages $472/mo less ($1,525 vs $1,997)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails San Leandro by $23,515/yr
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
San Leandro
Median Income
$23,515
$97,141 vs $73,626/yr
San Leandro
Violent Crime
6% lower
548.7 vs 582.3 per 100k
San Leandro
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Vancouver
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$369k less
$403,400 vs $772,700
Vancouver
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 80.9°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Leandro, CA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $772,700⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,997⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,141 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.6 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 161⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 84.3% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Leandro Unified | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 80.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.7" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,723 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Leandro's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 13 of 23 categories. San Leandro wins 10 and Vancouver wins 13. 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 Leandro to Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($772,700 vs $403,400 median home), income ($97,141 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Leandro, CA and Vancouver, WA are about 549 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.