Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Fairfield leads 14 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Fairfield
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $425k less ($121,100 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1130/mo less ($917 vs $2,047)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $49,004/yr
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,004 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Evansville
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 42°F
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 19% higher than Evansville
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Home Value
$425k less
$121,100 vs $546,200
Fairfield
Median Income
$49,004
$98,857 vs $49,853/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
59% lower
498.0 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $546,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 9.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% ✓ Higher | 87.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" | 24.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 119,420 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 14 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 9 and Fairfield wins 14. 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 Evansville to Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $546,200 median home), income ($49,853 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Fairfield, CA are about 1,864 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.