Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland leads 12 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Portland
Households earn $12,981 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Portland, OR
Pros
Rent averages $517/mo less ($1,530 vs $2,047)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $23k less ($523,100 vs $546,200)
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fairfield by $12,981/yr
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$12,981
$98,857 vs $85,876/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
31% lower
498.0 vs 720.1 per 100k
Fairfield
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Median Home Value
$23k less
$523,100 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $523,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Portland is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 11 and Portland wins 12. 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $523,100 median home), income ($98,857 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Portland, OR are about 504 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.