Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 15 of 21 categories
Fairfield
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
St. Petersburg
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,333
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,524 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.6%)
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Homes cost $257k less ($289,000 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $637/mo less ($1,410 vs $2,047)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $28,524/yr
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$28,524
$98,857 vs $70,333/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
20% lower
498.0 vs 619.6 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
St. Petersburg
Median Home Value
$257k less
$289,000 vs $546,200
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $289,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,410⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $70,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 93.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 46.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
St. Petersburg is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 15 of 21 categories. Fairfield wins 6 and St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $289,000 median home), income ($98,857 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and St. Petersburg, FL are about 2,375 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.