Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Kansas City, MO
🏆 Kansas City leads 12 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Kansas City
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,256
Violent Crime Index
407⚠ High
Population
505,958 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $33,601 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°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 16% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
Pros
Homes cost $337k less ($208,900 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $916/mo less ($1,131 vs $2,047)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.8%)
More college-educated — 37.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $33,601/yr
Violent crime (1547.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4676.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$33,601
$98,857 vs $65,256/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
68% lower
498.0 vs 1547.1 per 100k
Kansas City
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$337k less
$208,900 vs $546,200
Kansas City
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Kansas City, 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 | $208,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,131 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $65,256 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 407⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 223⚠ 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 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 37.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | KANSAS CITY 33 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 505,958 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kansas City leads 12 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 10 and Kansas City 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 Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $208,900 median home), income ($98,857 vs $65,256), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Kansas City, MO are about 1,477 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.