Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Fairfield leads 16 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,124 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 30°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 Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $388k less ($157,800 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1065/mo less ($982 vs $2,047)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $49,124/yr
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$49,124
$98,857 vs $49,733/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
65% lower
498.0 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Fairfield
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$388k less
$157,800 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $157,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $982 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 26.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 33.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 16 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 16 and Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $157,800 median home), income ($98,857 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Milwaukee, WI are about 1,803 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.