Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Conroe, TX
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Conroe leads 14 of 22 categories
Conroe
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,630
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475
Fairfield
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
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.
Conroe, TX
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($262,500 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $792/mo less ($1,255 vs $2,047)
51% less violent crime than Fairfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $27,227/yr
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,227 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
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
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Conroe
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Conroe
Violent Crime
51% lower
243.5 vs 498.0 per 100k
Conroe
Median Home Value
$284k less
$262,500 vs $546,200
Conroe
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Conroe
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 89.6°F
Fairfield
Median Income
$27,227
$98,857 vs $71,630/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Conroe, TX | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $262,500 ✓ Lower | $546,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,255 ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,630 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 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 | 78 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 87.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CONROE ISD | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.7°F ✓ Warmer | 56.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.0" | 24.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 92,475 | 119,420 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Conroe's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Conroe is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Conroe leads 14 of 22 categories. Conroe wins 14 and Fairfield wins 8. 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 Conroe to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($262,500 vs $546,200 median home), income ($71,630 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Conroe, TX and Fairfield, CA are about 1,605 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.