Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Hampton leads 12 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Hampton
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,427 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 49°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
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Hampton
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $326k less ($219,800 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $792/mo less ($1,255 vs $2,047)
50% less violent crime than Fairfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $34,427/yr
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$34,427
$98,857 vs $64,430/yr
Fairfield
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.5% unemployment
Hampton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Violent Crime
50% lower
247.6 vs 498.0 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$326k less
$219,800 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $219,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,255 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $64,430 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 27.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 49.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 137,217 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 55.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 12 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 11 and Hampton 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $219,800 median home), income ($98,857 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Hampton, VA are about 2,477 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.