Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Corona, CA
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Corona leads 15 of 21 categories
Corona
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,727 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
66 ✓ Safer
Population
158,346 ✓ Larger
Fairfield
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857
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.
Corona, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Fairfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (249.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 57°F
Households earn $4,870 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,200
Longer commutes — 35.3 min average each way
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($546,200 vs $624,200)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.6%)
Median income trails Corona by $4,870/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Corona
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Corona
Median Income
$4,870
$103,727 vs $98,857/yr
Corona
Violent Crime
50% lower
249.4 vs 498.0 per 100k
Corona
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Corona
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 89.6°F
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$78k less
$546,200 vs $624,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Corona, CA | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $624,200⚠ High | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,020⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,727 ✓ Higher | $98,857 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.3 min⚠ High | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.5% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 87.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Corona-Norco Unified | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 56.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.3" ✓ Drier | 24.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 158,346 ✓ Larger | 119,420 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.1% ✓ Higher | 60.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 24.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Corona's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Corona is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Corona leads 15 of 21 categories. Corona wins 15 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 Corona to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,200 vs $546,200 median home), income ($103,727 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Corona, CA and Fairfield, CA are about 393 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.