Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Fairfield leads 14 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Fairfield
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% less violent crime than Fairfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $22,682 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $451k less ($546,200 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $581/mo less ($2,047 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 37°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Cambridge by $22,682/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.3%)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$22,682
$121,539 vs $98,857/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
12% lower
436.7 vs 498.0 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Fairfield
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$451k less
$546,200 vs $997,600
Fairfield
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $2,047⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $98,857 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 87.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 24.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 119,420 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 14 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 9 and Fairfield wins 14. 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 Cambridge to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $546,200 median home), income ($121,539 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Fairfield, CA are about 2,657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.