Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Fairfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,334 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Roanoke
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°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 18% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $384k less ($162,000 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1130/mo less ($917 vs $2,047)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $47,334/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$47,334
$98,857 vs $51,523/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
20% lower
498.0 vs 620.4 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$384k less
$162,000 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 13 and Roanoke 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $162,000 median home), income ($98,857 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Roanoke, VA are about 2,279 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.