Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Lakeland, FL
🏆 Lakeland 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
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Lakeland
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,567 more per year on average
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 9% higher than Lakeland
Lakeland, FL
Pros
Homes cost $338k less ($207,800 vs $546,200)
89% less violent crime than Fairfield
Rent averages $830/mo less ($1,217 vs $2,047)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $40,567/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$40,567
$98,857 vs $58,290/yr
Lakeland
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Lakeland
Violent Crime
89% lower
56.0 vs 498.0 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$338k less
$207,800 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $207,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,217 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $58,290 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 17 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | POLK |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 114,404 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 40.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 18.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Lakeland's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Lakeland is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 15 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 7 and Lakeland 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 Lakeland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $207,800 median home), income ($98,857 vs $58,290), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Lakeland, FL are about 2,402 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.