Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 16 of 23 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
Midland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $8,409 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°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 14% higher than Midland
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $266k less ($280,700 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $647/mo less ($1,400 vs $2,047)
27% less violent crime than Fairfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $8,409/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$8,409
$98,857 vs $90,448/yr
Midland
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Violent Crime
27% lower
364.9 vs 498.0 per 100k
Midland
Median Home Value
$266k less
$280,700 vs $546,200
Midland
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $90,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 84.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 132,490 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 16 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 7 and Midland wins 16. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $280,700 median home), income ($98,857 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Midland, TX are about 1,202 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.