Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 14 of 23 categories
Sparks
Nevada
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
14
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.
Sparks, NV
Pros
Rent averages $615/mo less ($1,526 vs $2,141)
Homes cost $137k less ($423,500 vs $560,400)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $23,826/yr
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vacaville, CA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Sparks
Households earn $23,826 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Sparks
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Home Value
$137k less
$423,500 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$23,826
$106,764 vs $82,938/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
26% lower
293.2 vs 394.4 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 14 of 23 categories. Sparks wins 9 and Vacaville wins 14. 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 Sparks to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $560,400 median home), income ($82,938 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and Vacaville, CA are about 147 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.