Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Suffolk, VA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 12 of 23 categories
Suffolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98
Population
94,856
Vacaville
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $246k less ($314,400 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $765/mo less ($1,376 vs $2,141)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $19,006/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.4%)
Vacaville, CA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Suffolk
Households earn $19,006 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Suffolk
Key Differences at a Glance
Suffolk
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$246k less
$314,400 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$19,006
$106,764 vs $87,758/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
21% lower
293.2 vs 371.0 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.3% unemployment
Vacaville
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Suffolk, VA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,758 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.1% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Suffolk City Public Schools | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,856 | 101,631 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.5 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.4% ✓ Higher | 66.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Suffolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 12 of 23 categories. Suffolk wins 11 and Vacaville wins 12. 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 Suffolk to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($314,400 vs $560,400 median home), income ($87,758 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Suffolk, VA and Vacaville, CA are about 2,462 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.