Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Fairfield leads 15 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Fairfield
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $459k less ($87,400 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1196/mo less ($851 vs $2,047)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $61,586/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 5.5%)
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $61,586 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Cleveland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 35°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
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Cleveland
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 88.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$459k less
$87,400 vs $546,200
Fairfield
Median Income
$61,586
$98,857 vs $37,271/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
68% lower
498.0 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 11.9% unemployment
Fairfield
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $546,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 331⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 87.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" | 24.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 119,420 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 15 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 8 and Fairfield wins 15. 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 Cleveland to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $546,200 median home), income ($37,271 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Fairfield, CA are about 2,132 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.