Vacaville vs Highlands Ranch: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Vacaville, CA and Highlands Ranch, CO, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricVacaville, CAHighlands Ranch, CO
Population101,631101,514
Median household income$106,764$148,227
Median home value$560,400$637,400
Median rent (/mo)$2,141$2,353

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Vacaville, CA and Highlands Ranch, CO comes down to what you value most. Vacaville has the lower median home value, and Vacaville has the lower median rent.

Highlands Ranch has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Vacaville or Highlands Ranch?
By median home value, Vacaville is the cheaper of the two ($560,400 vs $637,400). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Vacaville or Highlands Ranch?
Median household income is $106,764 in Vacaville versus $148,227 in Highlands Ranch, per the US Census Bureau.

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