Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 19 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Meridian
Idaho
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Households earn $5,561 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Meridian
Meridian, ID
Pros
71% less violent crime than Fairfield
Rent averages $499/mo less ($1,548 vs $2,047)
Homes cost $120k less ($425,800 vs $546,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $5,561/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$5,561
$98,857 vs $93,296/yr
Meridian
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Violent Crime
71% lower
146.8 vs 498.0 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$120k less
$425,800 vs $546,200
Meridian
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $93,296 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 119,872 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 19 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 4 and Meridian wins 19. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $425,800 median home), income ($98,857 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Meridian, ID are about 472 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.