Vacaville vs Vallejo
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $589,500 in Vallejo and $620,900 in Vacaville.
- Households earn more in Vacaville ($111,126 vs $90,171 median).
- Vacaville has more scorching days: 88 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 16.
- Vacaville is growing faster: +1.4% since 2020 vs -2.2%.
- Commutes are shorter in Vacaville (28 vs 34 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Vacaville, CA | Vallejo, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 103,850 | 123,287 |
| Growth since 2020 | +1.4% | -2.2% |
| People per square mile | 3,477 | 4,051 |
| Median age | 38.2 | 40.6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28% | 29% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $111,126 | $90,171 |
| Median home value | $620,900 | $589,500 |
| Home value to income | 5.6× | 6.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $2,299 | $2,073 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 108.5 | 108.5 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 142.0 | 142.0 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $81,400 | $81,400 |
| Homeowners | 68% | 57% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 28.2 | 34.2 |
| Work from home | 12% | 12% |
| Take public transit | 0% | 3% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.8% | 7.4% |
| Poverty rate | 8.2% | 12.2% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 58° / 38° | 57° / 38° |
| July high / low | 95° / 59° | 79° / 55° |
| Precipitation per year | 25 in | 20 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 88 | 16 |
| Nights below freezing | 21 | 34 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 7 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 99% | 99% |
| Home prices, past year | -0.7% | -0.7% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +14.3% | +14.3% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Vacaville: March to May and October. Vallejo: April to October.
Full monthly tables: Vacaville weather by month and Vallejo weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $81,400 in Vacaville and $81,400 in Vallejo. Moving from Vacaville to Vallejo, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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