Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Stockton, CA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 13 of 23 categories
Stockton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Stockton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $108/mo less ($1,417 vs $1,525)
Homes cost $21k less ($382,000 vs $403,400)
Cons
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 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 32.8 min average each way
Vancouver, WA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Stockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Stockton
Median Home Value
$21k less
$382,000 vs $403,400
Stockton
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Median Income
$2,014
$73,626 vs $71,612/yr
Vancouver
Violent Crime
49% lower
582.3 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Vancouver
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Stockton, CA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.4⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,612 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 231⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Stockton Unified | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 320,030 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Stockton's cost of living index is 107.4 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 13 of 23 categories. Stockton wins 10 and Vancouver wins 13. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,000 vs $403,400 median home), income ($71,612 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Stockton, CA and Vancouver, WA are about 533 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.