Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Kirkland, WA
🏆 Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Kirkland
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$135,608 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
92,015
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $392k less ($546,200 vs $937,700)
Rent averages $203/mo less ($2,047 vs $2,250)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Kirkland
Cons
Median income trails Kirkland by $36,751/yr
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Kirkland, WA
Pros
88% less violent crime than Fairfield
Households earn $36,751 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (60.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $937,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Higher rents — median is $2,250/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fairfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$392k less
$546,200 vs $937,700
Fairfield
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 76.5°F
Kirkland
Median Income
$36,751
$135,608 vs $98,857/yr
Kirkland
Violent Crime
88% lower
60.6 vs 498.0 per 100k
Kirkland
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Kirkland, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $937,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,250⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 | $135,608 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 25.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 24.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 96.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Lake Washington Institute of Technology |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 37.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 92,015 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 62.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Kirkland's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Kirkland leads 12 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 10 and Kirkland 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 Kirkland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $937,700 median home), income ($98,857 vs $135,608), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Kirkland, WA are about 652 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.