Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 12 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Santa Rosa
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($546,200 vs $661,700)
Households earn $6,253 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Fairfield
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Median income trails Fairfield by $6,253/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Income
$6,253
$98,857 vs $92,604/yr
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$116k less
$546,200 vs $661,700
Fairfield
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
31% lower
342.6 vs 498.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $2,024⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $92,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 12 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 10 and Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $661,700 median home), income ($98,857 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 39 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.