Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Fairfield leads 15 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Rochester
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,701 more per year on average
14% less violent crime than Rochester
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 33°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 12% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $435k less ($111,400 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1052/mo less ($995 vs $2,047)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $54,701/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$54,701
$98,857 vs $44,156/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
14% lower
498.0 vs 582.3 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.5% unemployment
Fairfield
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$435k less
$111,400 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 19.3 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 | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ 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 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 15 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 15 and Rochester wins 8. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $111,400 median home), income ($98,857 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Rochester, NY are about 2,323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.