Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Toledo, OH
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Vista leads 12 of 23 categories
Toledo
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
12
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.
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $524k less ($98,800 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $1148/mo less ($854 vs $2,002)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $43,310/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.3%)
Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,310 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 27.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Toledo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Toledo
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$524k less
$98,800 vs $622,900
Toledo
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 84.6°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Income
$43,310
$88,715 vs $45,405/yr
Vista
Violent Crime
70% lower
316.4 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Vista
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Toledo, OH | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $98,800 ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $854 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,405 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 11.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 216⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 274⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.2% | 27.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Toledo City | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 37.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 269,962 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Toledo's cost of living index is 90.4 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vista leads 12 of 23 categories. Toledo wins 11 and Vista wins 12. 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 Toledo to Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($98,800 vs $622,900 median home), income ($45,405 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Toledo, OH and Vista, CA are about 1,923 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.