Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
McAllen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,531 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°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 24% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $388k less ($158,700 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1092/mo less ($955 vs $2,047)
70% less violent crime than Fairfield
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $42,531/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$42,531
$98,857 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
70% lower
150.0 vs 498.0 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$388k less
$158,700 vs $546,200
McAllen
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 27.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 9 and McAllen wins 14. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $158,700 median home), income ($98,857 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and McAllen, TX are about 1,613 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.