Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Palm Coast leads 13 of 19 categories
Fairfield
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,033 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.1%)
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($283,300 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $426/mo less ($1,621 vs $2,047)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 57°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $30,033/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$30,033
$98,857 vs $68,824/yr
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$263k less
$283,300 vs $546,200
Palm Coast
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $283,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,621⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $68,824 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 13 of 19 categories. Fairfield wins 6 and Palm Coast wins 13. 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 Palm Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $283,300 median home), income ($98,857 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Palm Coast, FL are about 2,395 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.