Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Grand Prairie, TX
🏆 Grand Prairie leads 14 of 23 categories
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
Grand Prairie
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,626
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
197,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,231 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
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Grand Prairie, TX
Pros
Homes cost $303k less ($242,900 vs $546,200)
56% less violent crime than Fairfield
Rent averages $666/mo less ($1,381 vs $2,047)
Violent crime is well below the national average (221.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $22,231/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$22,231
$98,857 vs $76,626/yr
Grand Prairie
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Grand Prairie
Violent Crime
56% lower
221.2 vs 498.0 per 100k
Grand Prairie
Median Home Value
$303k less
$242,900 vs $546,200
Grand Prairie
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.5% unemployment
Grand Prairie
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Grand Prairie, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $242,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,381⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $76,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 28.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 26.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 81.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | GRAND PRAIRIE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 58.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 40.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 197,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 59.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 27.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Grand Prairie's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Grand Prairie is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Grand Prairie leads 14 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 9 and Grand Prairie 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 Fairfield to Grand Prairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $242,900 median home), income ($98,857 vs $76,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Grand Prairie, TX are about 1,454 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.