City comparison
Stockton, CA vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Stockton, CA are 5.3% higher than in Visalia, CA. Someone earning $100,000 in Visalia, CA would need about $105,300 in Stockton, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,395 a month in Stockton, CA versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 23% of take-home pay in Stockton, CA and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- Both are in CA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $5,070 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −19.6% moving from Stockton, CA to Visalia, CA ($133,060 → $106,973), while prices change by −5.0%. Net effect of the transfer: −15.4% in real buying power.
- Stockton, CA: price level 105.1 (pricier)
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Stockton, CA | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 105.1 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $94,991 in Visalia | $105,273 in Stockton |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,395/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Stockton-Lodi, CA MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Stockton-Lodi, CA and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Stockton | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 115.6 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 158.2 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 105.1 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Stockton, CA → Visalia, CA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.3%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
85 Strong offer
Visalia, CA → Stockton, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.0%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
53 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Stockton, CA is in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Stockton, CA to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Stockton, CA | Visalia, CA | Real change, Stockton → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $77,161 | $62,033 | −15.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $93,358 | $75,055 | −15.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $111,896 | $89,959 | −15.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $133,060 | $106,973 | −15.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $157,236 | $126,410 | −15.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Stockton, CA | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Stockton dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $97,400 | $98,430 | $103,620 (+6.4%) |
| Software Developers | $138,550 | $126,170 | $132,823 (−4.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $83,570 | $79,400 | $83,587 (+0.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $134,580 | $125,180 | $131,781 (−2.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.