St. Petersburg FL vs Vallejo CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
St. Petersburg, FL
Florida · Population: 260,646
- Median HH Income$73,118
- Median Home Price$331,500
- Unemployment4.9%
- Bachelor's+41.3%
Vallejo, CA
California · Population: 68,141
- Median HH Income$137,194
- Median Home Price$523,551
- Unemployment5.0%
- Bachelor's+45.3%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
St. Petersburg
260,646
St. Petersburg +
Vallejo
68,141
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
St. Petersburg
N/A
Vallejo
N/A
Median Age
St. Petersburg
43.1
Vallejo
42.1
Vallejo +
Foreign Born
St. Petersburg
10.1%
Vallejo
46.9%
Vallejo +
White
St. Petersburg
66.2%
St. Petersburg +
Vallejo
17.9%
Black
St. Petersburg
19.4%
St. Petersburg +
Vallejo
5.3%
Asian
St. Petersburg
3.1%
Vallejo
55.9%
Vallejo +
Hispanic
St. Petersburg
9.3%
Vallejo
19.3%
Vallejo +
Spanish at Home
St. Petersburg
N/A
Vallejo
N/A
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Vallejo, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 260,646 | 68,141 | St. Petersburg + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 43.1 | 42.1 | Vallejo + |
| Foreign Born | 10.1% | 46.9% | Vallejo + |
| White | 66.2% | 17.9% | St. Petersburg + |
| Black | 19.4% | 5.3% | St. Petersburg + |
| Asian | 3.1% | 55.9% | Vallejo + |
| Hispanic | 9.3% | 19.3% | Vallejo + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
St. Petersburg
$73,118
Vallejo
$137,194
Vallejo +
Per Capita Income
St. Petersburg
$49,823
Vallejo
$56,020
Vallejo +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
St. Petersburg
$65,328
Vallejo
$77,230
Vallejo +
Unemployment Rate
St. Petersburg
4.9%
St. Petersburg +
Vallejo
5.0%
Poverty Rate
St. Petersburg
11.7%
Vallejo
7.0%
Vallejo +
Bachelor's Degree+
St. Petersburg
41.3%
Vallejo
45.3%
Vallejo +
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Vallejo, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $73,118 | $137,194 | Vallejo + |
| Per Capita Income | $49,823 | $56,020 | Vallejo + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $65,328 | $77,230 | Vallejo + |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.9% | 5.0% | St. Petersburg + |
| Poverty Rate | 11.7% | 7.0% | Vallejo + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 41.3% | 45.3% | Vallejo + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
St. Petersburg
$331,500
St. Petersburg +
Vallejo
$523,551
Homeownership Rate
St. Petersburg
63.0%
Vallejo
67.0%
Vallejo +
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Vallejo, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $331,500 | $523,551 | St. Petersburg + |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% | 67.0% | Vallejo + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
324
St. Petersburg +
Vallejo
503
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
1453
St. Petersburg +
Vallejo
2388
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Vallejo, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 324 | 503 | St. Petersburg + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1453 | 2388 | St. Petersburg + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
32.7%
Vallejo
31.6%
Vallejo +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
12.2%
St. Petersburg +
Vallejo
13.3%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
St. Petersburg
16.6%
St. Petersburg +
Vallejo
16.9%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
11.1%
Vallejo
9.6%
Vallejo +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
16.6%
Vallejo
13.8%
Vallejo +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
St. Petersburg
12.4%
Vallejo
12.0%
Vallejo +
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Vallejo, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 32.7% | 31.6% | Vallejo + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.2% | 13.3% | St. Petersburg + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.6% | 16.9% | St. Petersburg + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 11.1% | 9.6% | Vallejo + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.6% | 13.8% | Vallejo + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 12.4% | 12.0% | Vallejo + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Petersburg
N/A
Vallejo
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
St. Petersburg
N/A
Vallejo
N/A
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Vallejo, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | N/A | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
St. Petersburg
7.2 µg/m³
St. Petersburg +
Vallejo
7.9 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
St. Petersburg
75.0%
Vallejo
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Vallejo, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | St. Petersburg + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
St. Petersburg
26.8 min
St. Petersburg +
Vallejo
36.0 min
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | Vallejo, CA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 26.8 min | 36.0 min | St. Petersburg + |
Which City is Right for You?
Vallejo leads in median household income at $137,194, while st. Petersburg offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $331,500. On public safety, St. Petersburg is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Vallejo. St. Petersburg has a lower unemployment rate at 4.9%, and St. Petersburg has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Vallejo scores better with a lower obesity rate of 31.6%.
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