Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 15 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $10,391 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($304,000 vs $546,200)
53% less violent crime than Fairfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $318/mo less ($1,729 vs $2,047)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.5%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $10,391/yr
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$10,391
$98,857 vs $88,466/yr
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
53% lower
235.7 vs 498.0 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$242k less
$304,000 vs $546,200
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,729⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $88,466 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 15 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 7 and San Tan Valley wins 15. 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $304,000 median home), income ($98,857 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 684 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.