Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Fairfield leads 18 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Newark
New Jersey
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,397 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (5.5%)
14% less violent crime than Newark
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
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
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $234k less ($312,300 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $774/mo less ($1,273 vs $2,047)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $52,397/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Income
$52,397
$98,857 vs $46,460/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
14% lower
498.0 vs 581.2 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Median Home Value
$234k less
$312,300 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 18 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 18 and Newark wins 4. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $312,300 median home), income ($98,857 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Newark, NJ are about 2,526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.