Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Fairfield leads 16 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Lynn
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,811 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Lynn
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Lynn
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Lynn, MA
Pros
Rent averages $536/mo less ($1,511 vs $2,047)
Homes cost $103k less ($442,800 vs $546,200)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $28,811/yr
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Fairfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Income
$28,811
$98,857 vs $70,046/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
13% lower
498.0 vs 574.6 per 100k
Fairfield
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 80.3°F
Lynn
Median Home Value
$103k less
$442,800 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $442,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,511⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $70,046 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 36.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 100,653 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 48.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 16 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 16 and Lynn wins 7. 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $442,800 median home), income ($98,857 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Lynn, MA are about 2,664 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.