Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories
Fairfield
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Germantown by $10,411/yr
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Germantown, MD
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($393,700 vs $546,200)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,411 more per year on average
Rent averages $139/mo less ($1,908 vs $2,047)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.3°F
Germantown
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Germantown
Median Income
$10,411
$109,268 vs $98,857/yr
Germantown
Median Home Value
$153k less
$393,700 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,908⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 46.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Germantown is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Germantown leads 12 of 20 categories. Fairfield wins 8 and Germantown wins 12. 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 Fairfield to Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $393,700 median home), income ($98,857 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Germantown, MD are about 2,389 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.