Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $26,765 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
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
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($340,200 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $725/mo less ($1,322 vs $2,047)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 57°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $26,765/yr
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$26,765
$98,857 vs $72,092/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
38% lower
498.0 vs 799.6 per 100k
Phoenix
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$206k less
$340,200 vs $546,200
Phoenix
Summer Heat
14.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 10 and Phoenix 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $340,200 median home), income ($98,857 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Phoenix, AZ are about 643 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.