Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 12 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Ontario
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,787 more per year on average
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Ontario, CA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Fairfield
Rent averages $221/mo less ($1,826 vs $2,047)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Homes cost $33k less ($513,000 vs $546,200)
Smaller class sizes — 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $20,787/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$20,787
$98,857 vs $78,070/yr
Ontario
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Violent Crime
45% lower
272.2 vs 498.0 per 100k
Ontario
Median Home Value
$33k less
$513,000 vs $546,200
Ontario
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,826⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $78,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 21.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 10 and Ontario wins 12. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $513,000 median home), income ($98,857 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Ontario, CA are about 382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.