Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tracy, CA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 14 of 21 categories
Tracy
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Vacaville
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $4,953 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Homes cost $57k less ($560,400 vs $617,300)
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $4,953/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Tracy
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$4,953
$111,717 vs $106,764/yr
Vacaville
Median Home Value
$57k less
$560,400 vs $617,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tracy, CA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $617,300⚠ High | $560,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,162⚠ High | $2,141⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $111,717 ✓ Higher | $106,764 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 43.5 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (71) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Elementary | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.2°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.7" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,027 | 101,631 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.0% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.7% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tracy's cost of living index is 107.4 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 14 of 21 categories. Tracy wins 7 and Vacaville wins 14. 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 Tracy to Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($617,300 vs $560,400 median home), income ($111,717 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tracy, CA and Vacaville, CA are about 52 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.