Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Denton leads 14 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Fairfield
California
9
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($296,100 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $783/mo less ($1,264 vs $2,047)
59% less violent crime than Fairfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $26,936/yr
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,936 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°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 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
59% lower
204.2 vs 498.0 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$250k less
$296,100 vs $546,200
Denton
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 89.6°F
Fairfield
Median Income
$26,936
$98,857 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $546,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 87.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 24.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 119,420 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Denton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 14 of 23 categories. Denton wins 14 and Fairfield wins 9. 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 Denton to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $546,200 median home), income ($71,921 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Fairfield, CA are about 1,434 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.