Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Fairfield leads 12 of 22 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
Knoxville
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,548 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Knoxville
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°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 Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $362k less ($184,200 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1004/mo less ($1,043 vs $2,047)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $50,548/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$50,548
$98,857 vs $48,309/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
33% lower
498.0 vs 740.3 per 100k
Knoxville
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$362k less
$184,200 vs $546,200
Knoxville
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 12 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 12 and Knoxville wins 10. 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $184,200 median home), income ($98,857 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Knoxville, TN are about 2,089 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.