Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Fairfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Households earn $6,565 more per year on average
Homes cost $31k less ($546,200 vs $576,800)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.2%)
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Renton, WA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Fairfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $183/mo less ($1,864 vs $2,047)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fairfield by $6,565/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Income
$6,565
$98,857 vs $92,292/yr
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$31k less
$546,200 vs $576,800
Fairfield
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Violent Crime
32% lower
339.2 vs 498.0 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,864⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $92,292 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 13 and Renton wins 10. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $576,800 median home), income ($98,857 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Renton, WA are about 637 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.