Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Jacksonville leads 15 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Jacksonville
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,719 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Jacksonville
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 10% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $303k less ($243,000 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $766/mo less ($1,281 vs $2,047)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.8%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $34,719/yr
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$34,719
$98,857 vs $64,138/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
20% lower
498.0 vs 623.8 per 100k
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$303k less
$243,000 vs $546,200
Jacksonville
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $243,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,281 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $64,138 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 57.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 15 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 7 and Jacksonville wins 15. 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 Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $243,000 median home), income ($98,857 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Jacksonville, FL are about 2,349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.