Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 17 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Plano
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
70% less violent crime than Fairfield
Homes cost $134k less ($412,500 vs $546,200)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $348/mo less ($1,699 vs $2,047)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Median Income
$6,822
$105,679 vs $98,857/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
70% lower
151.6 vs 498.0 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$134k less
$412,500 vs $546,200
Plano
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.5% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 17 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 6 and Plano wins 17. 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $412,500 median home), income ($98,857 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Plano, TX are about 1,459 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.