Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Vallejo leads 14 of 23 categories
Springfield
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $317k less ($198,500 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $847/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,894)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $38,435/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 7.0%)
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,435 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (7.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$317k less
$198,500 vs $515,500
Vallejo
Median Income
$38,435
$86,112 vs $47,677/yr
Vallejo
Violent Crime
17% lower
739.8 vs 891.4 per 100k
Vallejo
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,500 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,047 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,677 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 195⚠ High | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.8°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.9°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,305 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vallejo leads 14 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 9 and Vallejo 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 Springfield to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,500 vs $515,500 median home), income ($47,677 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MA and Vallejo, CA are about 2,605 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.