Hello, My family moved here when I was a kid. You can expect to pay around $2,227 for rent here. The unemployment rate is 3.5%, which is pretty low. With a population of 102K, Vacaville is a mid-size city. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Am I overthinking this? Looking forward to hearing from you all. Night life is decent if you know the right spots.
15 upvotes
26 Replies
Gianna Gomez
interesting, hadn't considered that
37 upvotes
Landon Morgan
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a nurse, 51, moved here 10 years ago from Dallas. I've lived in East and Cedar Grove, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Four distinct seasons
3. Close to major attractions
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited public transit options
2. Not very walkable outside downtown
3. The community vibe situation is reasonable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- East: Great for families. hit or miss vibes, walkable.
- Cedar Grove: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Dallas, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are reasonable. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$140K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
37 upvotes
Allison
hmm interesting perspective
36 upvotes
Wesley R.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem average.
I've been here 1 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is dating scene. It's pricey and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the job market is legit. And if you're into mountain biking, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Eastside side vs the Meadowbrook side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
32 upvotes
Nathan M.
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want nightlife, then yeah this place is great. But if school system matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
27 upvotes
Isaiah M.
I'd say the biggest thing people don't talk about is housing market. it was the best decision I ever made. Worth doing your research before committing.
27 upvotes
Roger M.
noted, appreciate it
26 upvotes
Hazel Rodriguez
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 8 years ago from San Francisco and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: The market is competitive but not impossible. We're paying /mo for a 1-bed in Uptown. It's underrated for what you get.
Jobs: The market is competitive right now, especially in manufacturing. If you're in construction you might struggle.
People: Generally hit or miss. It took about 3 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: hit or miss. Tons of options if you like seafood.
Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
25 upvotes
Jace T.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value job market, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely pretty good and I've found I love the pace of life here. My neighborhood (Oak Park) is pricey and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Tampa, be prepared for the culture shock. food scene is completely different here. And Rising rent and home prices.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
23 upvotes
Jordan Hall
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 34, moved here 4 years ago from Salt Lake City. I've lived in Springfield and Westside, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Low crime in most neighborhoods
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Diverse dining options
4. The people are generally challenging - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Rising rent and home prices
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The housing market situation is manageable and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Springfield: Great for singles. better than expected vibes, walkable.
- Westside: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Salt Lake City, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are growing. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $70K-$70K here.
**Final verdict:**
Would recommend to anyone considering it.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
19 upvotes
Theodore Cooper
I've lived in North for about 8 years now, so I can give you a pretty detailed perspective.
there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. When I first moved here from Houston, I was surprised by healthcare. It took some adjustment but now I wouldn't trade it.
A few things worth knowing:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Strong job market in several industries
- The community vibe scene is tough
The downsides:
- Road conditions need improvement
- Far from beaches/mountains
Overall I'd rate it 6/10 for couples. Your mileage may vary depending on what you're looking for..
19 upvotes
Sarah Ortiz
Can confirm, been here 10 years.
18 upvotes
Eva
interesting, hadn't considered that
15 upvotes
Leah Ramirez
yeah no that's not right
14 upvotes
Autumn Young
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want safety, then yeah this place is great. But if job market matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
13 upvotes
Genesis Myers
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. Internet is better than expected in most areas.
12 upvotes
Donna M.
If you're remote, this place is great for cost of living. it's exactly what I was looking for. Internet is underrated in most areas.
11 upvotes
Naomi Kelly
seconding this
8 upvotes
Victoria Green
haha yep pretty much
7 upvotes
Matthew
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 4-bedroom. it's improved dramatically in recent years. Compared to Boston it's surprisingly good.
7 upvotes
Jaxon G.
I've been living here for 13 years and I'd say it exceeded my expectations. The public transit is challenging compared to other places I've lived. Overall Definitely worth checking out..
7 upvotes
Addison Turner
Moved here last year, no regrets.
6 upvotes
Brooklyn Carter
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value safety, you'll love it. The traffic is genuinely pretty good and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Highland) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Denver, be prepared for the culture shock. community vibe is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
6 upvotes
zoey_chef
I work in construction here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. The job market for my field is better than expected. Feel free to reach out with questions..
3 upvotes
Jose Ross
thanks for sharing
3 upvotes
tamparider2020
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a contractor, 27, moved here 2 years ago from Chicago. I've lived in North and South, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Cost of living is very reasonable
2. Nice parks and green spaces
3. Affordable housing options
4. The people are generally average - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Winters are long and cold
2. Nightlife is limited
3. The housing market situation is competitive and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- North: Great for remote workers. decent vibes, walkable.
- South: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Chicago, everything felt decent. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are manageable. Gas is reasonable. You can live comfortably on $40K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
It's not for everyone but it works for us.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
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