Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Simi Valley, CA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 17 of 22 categories
Simi Valley
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
5
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.
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
83% less violent crime than Vallejo
Households earn $26,032 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Vallejo
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($515,500 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $508/mo less ($1,894 vs $2,402)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Cons
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Simi Valley by $26,032/yr
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Simi Valley
Median Income
$26,032
$112,144 vs $86,112/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
83% lower
129.1 vs 739.8 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.0% unemployment
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Vallejo
Median Home Value
$189k less
$515,500 vs $704,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Simi Valley, CA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.5⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $704,200⚠ High | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,402⚠ High | $1,894⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $112,144 ✓ Higher | $86,112 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 38 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.0% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Simi Valley Unified | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,153 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 41.2 ✓ Older | 40.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.8% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Simi Valley's cost of living index is 113.5 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vallejo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 17 of 22 categories. Simi Valley wins 17 and Vallejo wins 5. 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 Simi Valley to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($704,200 vs $515,500 median home), income ($112,144 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Simi Valley, CA and Vallejo, CA are about 330 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.