Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sunnyvale, CA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 13 of 23 categories
Sunnyvale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Vancouver
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $100,880 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Vancouver
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
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 6% higher than Vancouver
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Homes cost $1277k less ($403,400 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1465/mo less ($1,525 vs $2,990)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $100,880/yr
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 unemployment (5.6% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$100,880
$174,506 vs $73,626/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
58% lower
244.5 vs 582.3 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Vancouver
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$1277k less
$403,400 vs $1,680,700
Vancouver
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 80.9°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sunnyvale, CA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,680,700⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,990⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $174,506 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 68.0% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cupertino Union | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 80.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.4" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 154,573 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sunnyvale's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 13 of 23 categories. Sunnyvale wins 13 and Vancouver wins 10. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,680,700 vs $403,400 median home), income ($174,506 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sunnyvale, CA and Vancouver, WA are about 571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.