Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 15 of 21 categories
Fairfield
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Orange
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $302k less ($546,200 vs $848,200)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Rent averages $101/mo less ($2,047 vs $2,148)
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Median income trails Orange by $10,478/yr
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Orange, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Fairfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,478 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fairfield
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$302k less
$546,200 vs $848,200
Fairfield
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$10,478
$109,335 vs $98,857/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
55% lower
226.1 vs 498.0 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Orange leads 15 of 21 categories. Fairfield wins 6 and Orange wins 15. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $848,200 median home), income ($98,857 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Orange, CA are about 387 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.