Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Fairfield leads 12 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Gresham
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,420 more per year on average
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Gresham, OR
Pros
Rent averages $595/mo less ($1,452 vs $2,047)
Homes cost $135k less ($411,700 vs $546,200)
18% less violent crime than Fairfield
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $29,420/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$29,420
$98,857 vs $69,437/yr
Fairfield
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 81.6°F
Gresham
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Gresham
Violent Crime
18% lower
410.2 vs 498.0 per 100k
Gresham
Median Home Value
$135k less
$411,700 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $69,437 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 23.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 46.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 113,525 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 55.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Gresham is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 12 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 12 and Gresham 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 Fairfield to Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $411,700 median home), income ($98,857 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Gresham, OR are about 501 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.