Vallejo, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Vallejo, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Vallejo →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Vallejo's population is about 125,132. On income, the typical household clears $86,112 a year, running above the median household income across the cities we cover (+19%).
Expect a median home value of $515,500 in Vallejo, which runs above what we see across other cities (+58%). Median rent lands at $1,894/month — a useful baseline before comparing mortgage payments to rent.
The ratio of median home value to median household income in Vallejo — roughly 6.0× — is on the high side, a sign that local pay hasn't kept pace with housing costs. Vallejo's home prices have softened modestly, down roughly 0.32% from a year earlier. FEMA rates Vallejo's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High — worth factoring into home insurance costs.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,894/mo in Vallejo would take 26.4% of your income.
$259/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($515,500) would take 38.4% of your income toward principal & interest.
$743/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Vallejo
Median home value is $515,500 and median gross rent is $1,894/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Solano fell 0.32% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,178/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Vallejo's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Vallejo reported a violent crime rate of 778.9 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Vallejo
Planning a move to Vallejo? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Vallejo, CA?
- The US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022) puts Vallejo's median home value at $515,500, median rent at $1,894/month, and median household income at $86,112.
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Vallejo?
- To keep rent under the commonly recommended 30% of income in Vallejo, where median rent runs $1,894/month, you'd want to earn about $75,760 annually. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Vallejo.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Vallejo?
- Buying at Vallejo's median home value of $515,500 takes about $117,944 a year in principal-and-interest income (20% down, 30-year fixed, current mortgage rates), compared with roughly $75,760 a year to comfortably rent at the median $1,894/month. Down payment and expected length of stay usually settle the question.
- Is Vallejo safe?
- FBI data puts Vallejo's violent crime rate at 778.9 per 100,000 residents for 2025 — a useful benchmark alongside other cities you're weighing.
See the full salary breakdown for Vallejo →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Vallejo's.