Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Carson leads 12 of 22 categories
Carson
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Fairfield
California
10
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Fairfield
Rent averages $232/mo less ($1,815 vs $2,047)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Households earn $4,188 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.5%)
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Homes cost $70k less ($546,200 vs $616,000)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Median income trails Carson by $4,188/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$4,188
$103,045 vs $98,857/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
16% lower
420.0 vs 498.0 per 100k
Fairfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$70k less
$546,200 vs $616,000
Fairfield
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Fairfield
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $98,857 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 87.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 24.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 119,420 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carson leads 12 of 22 categories. Carson 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 Carson to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $546,200 median home), income ($103,045 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Fairfield, CA are about 371 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.