Salinas, CA 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.
Salinas
63.5
#1766 nationally
Vacaville
66.1
#1590 nationally
Vacaville leads in crime level (8.0 vs 14.4). Salinas leads in walk score (55 vs 36). Vacaville leads in median household income ($106,764 vs $84,250).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Salinas, CA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.5 (#1766) | 66.1 (#1590) |
| Population | 159,506 | 102,526 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $753,868 | $607,747 |
| Median Household Income | $84,250 | $106,764 |
| Average Commute | 25.9 min | 28.9 min |
| Walk Score | 55 | 36 |
| Crime Level | 14.4 | 8.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 149 | 151 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+29.9 | D+23.0 |
D
63.5 Score
Salinas, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$753,868
Population
159,506
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
55
Pacific
View Salinas, CA →
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 →