Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Clara, CA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Santa Clara leads 14 of 22 categories
Santa Clara
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,112
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.
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $79,240 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Vallejo
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Homes cost $925k less ($515,500 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $947/mo less ($1,894 vs $2,841)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $79,240/yr
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Santa Clara
Median Income
$79,240
$165,352 vs $86,112/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
75% lower
182.0 vs 739.8 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Vallejo
Median Home Value
$925k less
$515,500 vs $1,440,200
Vallejo
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 80.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Clara, CA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,440,200⚠ High | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,841⚠ High | $1,894⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $165,352 ✓ Higher | $86,112 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.9% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 64.6% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Santa Clara Unified | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.8°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.6" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 128,058 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Clara's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vallejo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 14 of 22 categories. Santa Clara wins 14 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 Santa Clara to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,440,200 vs $515,500 median home), income ($165,352 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Clara, CA and Vallejo, CA are about 54 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.