Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Vallejo, CA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 15 of 22 categories
Vallejo
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Waco
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,691 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $341k less ($174,100 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $856/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,894)
42% less violent crime than Vallejo
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.5%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $38,691/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Vallejo
Median Income
$38,691
$86,112 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
42% lower
425.9 vs 739.8 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$341k less
$174,100 vs $515,500
Waco
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.0% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 85.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Vallejo, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $515,500⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,894⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,112 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.7 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 193⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Vallejo City Unified | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.3°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.4°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,132 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Vallejo's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 15 of 22 categories. Vallejo wins 7 and Waco wins 15. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($515,500 vs $174,100 median home), income ($86,112 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Vallejo, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,487 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.