Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tampa, FL
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Tampa leads 17 of 22 categories
Tampa
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
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.
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($333,200 vs $515,500)
40% less violent crime than Vallejo
Rent averages $472/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,894)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vallejo by $19,310/yr
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,310 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Tampa
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Violent Crime
40% lower
444.6 vs 739.8 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$182k less
$333,200 vs $515,500
Tampa
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Income
$19,310
$86,112 vs $66,802/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tampa, FL | Vallejo, 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 | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,802 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.3% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 388,768 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tampa's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 17 of 22 categories. Tampa wins 17 and Vallejo wins 5. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($333,200 vs $515,500 median home), income ($66,802 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tampa, FL and Vallejo, CA are about 2,388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.