Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Inglewood, CA
🏆 Fairfield leads 16 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Inglewood
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,563
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
106,806
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,294 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Inglewood
Homes cost $144k less ($546,200 vs $689,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Inglewood
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Inglewood, CA
Pros
Rent averages $381/mo less ($1,666 vs $2,047)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $31,294/yr
Violent crime (674.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $689,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Income
$31,294
$98,857 vs $67,563/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
26% lower
498.0 vs 674.6 per 100k
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$144k less
$546,200 vs $689,700
Fairfield
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.2% unemployment
Fairfield
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Inglewood, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $689,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,666⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $67,563 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 172⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 23.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 22.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 77.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Inglewood Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 106,806 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Inglewood's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 16 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 16 and Inglewood wins 6. 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 Inglewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $689,700 median home), income ($98,857 vs $67,563), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Inglewood, CA are about 362 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.