Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Antioch, CA
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Fairfield leads 16 of 22 categories
Antioch
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,709
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
115,016
Fairfield
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Antioch, CA
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 21.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (3193.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.5%)
Fairfield, CA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Antioch
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Antioch
Households earn $8,148 more per year on average
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Income
$8,148
$98,857 vs $90,709/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
18% lower
498.0 vs 606.8 per 100k
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$25k less
$546,200 vs $570,900
Fairfield
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Antioch, CA | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $570,900⚠ High | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $2,047⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,709 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 44.9 min⚠ High | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 152⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% | 87.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Antioch Unified | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.7°F | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.6" ✓ Drier | 24.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,016 | 119,420 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.5% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Antioch's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 16 of 22 categories. Antioch wins 6 and Fairfield wins 16. 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 Antioch to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($570,900 vs $546,200 median home), income ($90,709 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Antioch, CA and Fairfield, CA are about 23 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.