Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane leads 13 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Spokane
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,541 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Spokane
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 38°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
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Spokane
Spokane, WA
Pros
Rent averages $987/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,047)
Homes cost $259k less ($286,900 vs $546,200)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $35,541/yr
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$35,541
$98,857 vs $63,316/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
26% lower
498.0 vs 674.9 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Spokane
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Spokane
Median Home Value
$259k less
$286,900 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 13 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 10 and Spokane wins 13. 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $286,900 median home), income ($98,857 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Spokane, WA are about 690 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.