Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tacoma, WA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 15 of 22 categories
Tacoma
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Rent averages $652/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,141)
Homes cost $145k less ($415,300 vs $560,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 95°F
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $27,679/yr
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vacaville, CA
Pros
72% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $27,679 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$145k less
$415,300 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Vacaville
Median Income
$27,679
$106,764 vs $79,085/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
72% lower
293.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
18.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tacoma, WA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,085 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 280⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.8% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.9% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tacoma School District | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 219,234 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.8% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tacoma's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vacaville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 15 of 22 categories. Tacoma 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 Tacoma to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,300 vs $560,400 median home), income ($79,085 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tacoma, WA and Vacaville, CA are about 615 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.