Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Fairfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Fairfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $447k less ($99,700 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1160/mo less ($887 vs $2,047)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $52,261/yr
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2955.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.5%)
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,261 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Akron
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$447k less
$99,700 vs $546,200
Fairfield
Median Income
$52,261
$98,857 vs $46,596/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
39% lower
498.0 vs 820.3 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Fairfield
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $546,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 87.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 24.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 119,420 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Akron is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Akron wins 10 and Fairfield wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Akron to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $546,200 median home), income ($46,596 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Fairfield, CA are about 2,144 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.