Durham, NC vs Vacaville, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Durham
69.4
#1213 nationally
Vacaville
66.1
#1590 nationally
Vacaville leads in median household income ($106,764 vs $67,432). Durham leads in cost of living index (102 vs 151). Durham leads in average commute (22.8 min vs 28.9 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Durham, NC | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1213) | 66.1 (#1590) |
| Population | 283,506 | 102,526 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $395,976 | $607,747 |
| Median Household Income | $67,432 | $106,764 |
| Average Commute | 22.8 min | 28.9 min |
| Walk Score | 33 | 36 |
| Crime Level | Moderate | 8.0 |
| School Rating | 6.4 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 102 | 151 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+61.9 | D+23.0 |
D+
69.4 Score
Durham, NC
Bull City innovation and inclusion
Median Home
$395,976
Population
283,506
Crime
Moderate
Schools
B-
Southeast
View Durham, NC →
D
66.1 Score
Vacaville, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$607,747
Population
102,526
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
36
Pacific
View Vacaville, CA →