Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Fairfield leads 16 of 21 categories
Fairfield
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,669 more per year on average
5% less violent crime than South Gate
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Homes cost $33k less ($546,200 vs $578,900)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
South Gate, CA
Pros
Rent averages $647/mo less ($1,400 vs $2,047)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $31,669/yr
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3598.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Income
$31,669
$98,857 vs $67,188/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
5% lower
498.0 vs 525.6 per 100k
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$33k less
$546,200 vs $578,900
Fairfield
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Fairfield
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 16 of 21 categories. Fairfield wins 16 and South Gate wins 5. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $578,900 median home), income ($98,857 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and South Gate, CA are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.