Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sunnyvale, CA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 14 of 22 categories
Sunnyvale
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,112
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $88,394 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Vallejo
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Vallejo
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1165k less ($515,500 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1096/mo less ($1,894 vs $2,990)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $88,394/yr
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
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$88,394
$174,506 vs $86,112/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
67% lower
244.5 vs 739.8 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.0% unemployment
Vallejo
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Vallejo
Median Home Value
$1165k less
$515,500 vs $1,680,700
Vallejo
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sunnyvale, CA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,680,700⚠ High | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,990⚠ High | $1,894⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $174,506 ✓ Higher | $86,112 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 68.0% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cupertino Union | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.4" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 154,573 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sunnyvale's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vallejo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 14 of 22 categories. Sunnyvale wins 14 and Vallejo wins 8. 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 Sunnyvale to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,680,700 vs $515,500 median home), income ($174,506 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sunnyvale, CA and Vallejo, CA are about 51 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.