Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Vancouver, WA
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Vancouver leads 15 of 23 categories
Vancouver
Washington
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
8
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.
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Homes cost $220k less ($403,400 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $477/mo less ($1,525 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vista by $15,089/yr
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vista, CA
Pros
46% less violent crime than Vancouver
Households earn $15,089 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°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 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Vancouver
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$220k less
$403,400 vs $622,900
Vancouver
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Vista
Median Income
$15,089
$88,715 vs $73,626/yr
Vista
Violent Crime
46% lower
316.4 vs 582.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Vancouver, WA | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,626 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 162⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evergreen School District (Clark) | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.4" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,700 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.9% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.1% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Vancouver's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 15 of 23 categories. Vancouver wins 15 and Vista wins 8. 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 Vancouver to Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($403,400 vs $622,900 median home), income ($73,626 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Vancouver, WA and Vista, CA are about 906 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.