Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem 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
Salem
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,317 more per year on average
6% less violent crime than Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $823/mo less ($1,224 vs $2,047)
Homes cost $197k less ($349,500 vs $546,200)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $31,317/yr
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$31,317
$98,857 vs $67,540/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
6% lower
498.0 vs 532.2 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Fairfield
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$197k less
$349,500 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 11 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $349,500 median home), income ($98,857 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Salem, OR are about 463 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.