Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Stockton, CA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 15 of 22 categories
Stockton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,612
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
15
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.
Stockton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $724/mo less ($1,417 vs $2,141)
Homes cost $178k less ($382,000 vs $560,400)
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $35,152/yr
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.4%)
Vacaville, CA
Pros
74% less violent crime than Stockton
Households earn $35,152 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Stockton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Stockton
Median Home Value
$178k less
$382,000 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$35,152
$106,764 vs $71,612/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
74% lower
293.2 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Stockton, CA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,612 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 231⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Stockton Unified | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.7°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 320,030 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Stockton's cost of living index is 107.4 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Stockton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 15 of 22 categories. Stockton wins 7 and Vacaville wins 15. 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 Stockton to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,000 vs $560,400 median home), income ($71,612 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Stockton, CA and Vacaville, CA are about 44 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.