Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clovis, CA
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Clovis leads 16 of 22 categories
Clovis
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,554
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
120,607 ✓ Larger
Fairfield
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clovis, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Fairfield
Rent averages $565/mo less ($1,482 vs $2,047)
Homes cost $126k less ($420,700 vs $546,200)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.5%)
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Clovis
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Clovis
Violent Crime
51% lower
244.6 vs 498.0 per 100k
Clovis
Median Home Value
$126k less
$420,700 vs $546,200
Clovis
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 89.6°F
Fairfield
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clovis, CA | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $420,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $546,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,482⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,554 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 87.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clovis Unified | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.6" ✓ Drier | 24.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,607 ✓ Larger | 119,420 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 24.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clovis's cost of living index is 107.8 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Clovis is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clovis leads 16 of 22 categories. Clovis wins 16 and Fairfield wins 6. 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 Clovis to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($420,700 vs $546,200 median home), income ($98,554 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clovis, CA and Fairfield, CA are about 162 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.