Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tampa, FL
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Tampa leads 16 of 22 categories
Tampa
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($333,200 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $580/mo less ($1,422 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 66°F
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vista by $21,913/yr
Vista, CA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Tampa
Households earn $21,913 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Tampa
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Median Home Value
$290k less
$333,200 vs $622,900
Tampa
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.3% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Income
$21,913
$88,715 vs $66,802/yr
Vista
Violent Crime
29% lower
316.4 vs 444.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tampa, FL | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,802 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.3% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 388,768 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tampa's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 16 of 22 categories. Tampa wins 16 and Vista wins 6. 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($333,200 vs $622,900 median home), income ($66,802 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tampa, FL and Vista, CA are about 2,089 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.