Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Fairfield
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
65% less violent crime than Fairfield
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $25,760 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Homes cost $40k less ($546,200 vs $586,500)
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Centennial by $25,760/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$25,760
$124,617 vs $98,857/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
65% lower
172.8 vs 498.0 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$40k less
$546,200 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $98,857 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 87.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 24.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 119,420 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 16 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 Centennial to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $546,200 median home), income ($124,617 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Fairfield, CA are about 926 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.