Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Fairfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Seattle
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $334k less ($546,200 vs $879,900)
36% less violent crime than Seattle
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 47°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Seattle by $17,211/yr
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Seattle, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $17,211 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5007.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Violent Crime
36% lower
498.0 vs 775.1 per 100k
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$334k less
$546,200 vs $879,900
Fairfield
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$17,211
$116,068 vs $98,857/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,945⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 13 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $879,900 median home), income ($98,857 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Seattle, WA are about 647 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.