Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Buckeye leads 15 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Fairfield
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $205k less ($341,700 vs $546,200)
67% less violent crime than Fairfield
Rent averages $450/mo less ($1,597 vs $2,047)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Median income trails Fairfield by $4,669/yr
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 107°F
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,669 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Buckeye
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Violent Crime
67% lower
166.8 vs 498.0 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$205k less
$341,700 vs $546,200
Buckeye
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 89.6°F
Fairfield
Median Income
$4,669
$98,857 vs $94,188/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $546,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 87.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F ✓ Warmer | 56.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 24.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 119,420 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 24.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 15 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 15 and Fairfield wins 7. 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 Buckeye to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $546,200 median home), income ($94,188 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Fairfield, CA are about 622 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.