Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Fairfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Fairfield
California
13
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.
Columbia, SC
Pros
Homes cost $320k less ($226,200 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $942/mo less ($1,105 vs $2,047)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $44,762/yr
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.5%)
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,762 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Columbia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.5%)
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 16% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$320k less
$226,200 vs $546,200
Fairfield
Median Income
$44,762
$98,857 vs $54,095/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
35% lower
498.0 vs 769.9 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $546,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 87.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 24.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 119,420 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 10 and Fairfield wins 13. 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 Columbia to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $546,200 median home), income ($54,095 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Fairfield, CA are about 2,294 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.