What it's like to live in Suisun City
Suisun City is a small city in California with household incomes running above the national average and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Suisun City deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and college degree attainment below the national average.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Clean air
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Low college degree attainment
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
How Suisun City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Suisun City
Based on Suisun City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,314
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $86,280 a year
- 53% of Suisun City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$115,900
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $57,950
- Homes cost 6.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 53% above US
$2,157/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,157 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $579,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $579,500 · 53% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 21% above US
5.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.2%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 19% below US
267 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1420/100k · Suisun City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 23% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 31.9 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 41°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 41% below US
21% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 21%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 25:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial (13 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Suisun City's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and air quality that stays clean most of the year; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,157/mo) equals 27% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Suisun City
All California guides →Moving to Fairfield →
2 mi away · pop. 120,785
Rent $2,266/mo · Income $101,895
Compare with Suisun City →Moving to Vacaville →
8 mi away · pop. 102,596
Rent $2,299/mo · Income $111,126
Compare with Suisun City →Moving to American Canyon →
14 mi away · pop. 21,691
Rent $2,537/mo · Income $121,700
Compare with Suisun City →Moving to Benicia →
14 mi away · pop. 26,749
Rent $2,280/mo · Income $121,204
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