Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tampa, FL
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Tampa leads 12 of 22 categories
Tampa
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
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.
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($333,200 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $719/mo less ($1,422 vs $2,141)
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 58°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $39,962/yr
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,962 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Tampa
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Tampa
Key Differences at a Glance
Tampa
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Median Home Value
$227k less
$333,200 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$39,962
$106,764 vs $66,802/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
34% lower
293.2 vs 444.6 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tampa, FL | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,802 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.3% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 388,768 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tampa's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 12 of 22 categories. Tampa wins 12 and Vacaville 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 Tampa to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($333,200 vs $560,400 median home), income ($66,802 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tampa, FL and Vacaville, CA are about 2,374 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.