Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Vallejo, CA
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Vista leads 12 of 22 categories
Vallejo
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,112
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132 ✓ 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.
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Homes cost $107k less ($515,500 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $108/mo less ($1,894 vs $2,002)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Cons
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 6.3%)
Longer commutes — 36.7 min average each way
Vista, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Vallejo
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 85°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Vallejo
Key Differences at a Glance
Vallejo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Vallejo
Median Home Value
$107k less
$515,500 vs $622,900
Vallejo
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 85.4°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Income
$2,603
$88,715 vs $86,112/yr
Vista
Violent Crime
57% lower
316.4 vs 739.8 per 100k
Vista
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Vallejo, CA | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $515,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,894⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,112 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.7 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% | 11.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 193⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 20.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Vallejo City Unified | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.3°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.4°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,132 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Vallejo's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Vallejo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vista leads 12 of 22 categories. Vallejo wins 10 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 Vallejo to Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($515,500 vs $622,900 median home), income ($86,112 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Vallejo, CA and Vista, CA are about 441 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.