2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

Vallejo

California (CA)

Best for: Bay Area workers seeking ferry access and relatively lower home prices than the core Bay Area

2027 CITY CLASSMedium City100,000–299,999 residents

Modern Livability73.9/ 100

AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population123,287

Median Home$589,500

Median Rent$2,073

Median Household Income$90,171

Cost of LivingRPP 108.5 (US=100; BEA 2024)

Average Commute32.0 min

Unemployment5.3% (BLS 2024 annual avg)

Metro AreaVallejo, CA

2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

73.9overall

Housing & Financial Reality38.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living71.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability65.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity80.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness80.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place83.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion71.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape76.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging82.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment90.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture79.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity82.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionHigh. Regional commuting and major corridors can create recurring peak-hour delay.

Weekend EscapeExcellent. Major parks, mountains, coast, rivers or other regional recreation provide unusually strong weekend options.

WalkabilityAbout 50/100 citywide Walk Score. Several districts support walking for daily needs, although convenience still varies by neighborhood.

Airport AccessGood to excellent. Regional airport access is practical, with larger nearby hubs expanding domestic and international options where needed.

Outdoor AccessGood to very good. Local parks, trails and regional recreation provide meaningful outdoor options.

Healthcare AccessStrong to excellent. Major hospitals, outpatient networks and specialty providers offer practical routine and advanced-care access.

Air QualityMixed. Ozone, wildfire smoke, traffic emissions or valley/inversion conditions can periodically reduce air quality.

Third Places / Social LifeGood to very good. Restaurants, parks, cafés, libraries and community events provide regular gathering places.

EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Stable

WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

Vallejo is included in the 2027 MNM Livability Index as the #240 most populous U.S. city in the Census Bureau's 2025 estimates. Its strongest advantages are bay area access; ferry; waterfront; relative bay area housing value; diversity. The clearest tradeoffs are housing cost; long commutes; neighborhood safety variation; traffic; earthquake risk. The MNM profile balances housing, everyday ease, safety, opportunity, wellness, beauty, mobility, nature, belonging, climate, culture and infrastructure rather than relying on a single headline metric.

REAL LIFE

What living here actually feels like

Vallejo feels shaped by bay area access and its broader north bay / san francisco bay area setting. Neighborhood choice has a meaningful effect on commute, walkability, housing cost and overall day-to-day experience.

STRENGTHS