Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Denver leads 13 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Fairfield
California
10
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
Rent averages $382/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,047)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fairfield by $13,004/yr
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Fairfield, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Denver
Households earn $13,004 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Fairfield
Median Income
$13,004
$98,857 vs $85,853/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
50% lower
498.0 vs 993.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $546,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 87.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 24.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 119,420 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Denver is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 13 of 23 categories. Denver wins 13 and Fairfield wins 10. 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 Denver to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $546,200 median home), income ($85,853 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Fairfield, CA are about 925 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.