Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Fairfield
California
12
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.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $319k less ($227,200 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $678/mo less ($1,369 vs $2,047)
21% less violent crime than Fairfield
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $44,417/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.5%)
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,417 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°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
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Bridgeport
Violent Crime
21% lower
392.9 vs 498.0 per 100k
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$319k less
$227,200 vs $546,200
Fairfield
Median Income
$44,417
$98,857 vs $54,440/yr
Fairfield
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 9.5% unemployment
Fairfield
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $546,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 87.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 24.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 119,420 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Bridgeport is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 11 and Fairfield wins 12. 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 Bridgeport to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $546,200 median home), income ($54,440 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Fairfield, CA are about 2,569 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.