Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Independence
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,442 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Independence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°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 16% higher than Independence
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $395k less ($150,800 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1027/mo less ($1,020 vs $2,047)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $41,442/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$41,442
$98,857 vs $57,415/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
13% lower
498.0 vs 571.2 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Independence
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$395k less
$150,800 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 122,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 12 and Independence wins 11. 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 Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $150,800 median home), income ($98,857 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Independence, MO are about 1,488 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.