Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Fairfield leads 13 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Palmdale
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Palmdale
Households earn $20,443 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°F
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
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($397,500 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $422/mo less ($1,625 vs $2,047)
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fairfield by $20,443/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Income
$20,443
$98,857 vs $78,414/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
10% lower
498.0 vs 551.0 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Home Value
$149k less
$397,500 vs $546,200
Palmdale
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 13 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 13 and Palmdale wins 9. 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $397,500 median home), income ($98,857 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Palmdale, CA are about 335 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.