Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Richmond
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,251 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°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 Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $238k less ($308,300 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $820/mo less ($1,227 vs $2,047)
32% less violent crime than Fairfield
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $39,251/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$39,251
$98,857 vs $59,606/yr
Fairfield
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Richmond
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
32% lower
336.9 vs 498.0 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$238k less
$308,300 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 12 and Richmond wins 11. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $308,300 median home), income ($98,857 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Richmond, VA are about 2,406 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.