Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 22 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Fairfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $295k less ($251,300 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $750/mo less ($1,297 vs $2,047)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $27,121/yr
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,121 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
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
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Violent Crime
3% lower
482.9 vs 498.0 per 100k
Arlington
Median Home Value
$295k less
$251,300 vs $546,200
Arlington
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 89.6°F
Fairfield
Median Income
$27,121
$98,857 vs $71,736/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $546,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 87.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 56.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 24.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 119,420 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 22 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Fairfield wins 10. 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 Arlington to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $546,200 median home), income ($71,736 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Fairfield, CA are about 1,448 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.