Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 14 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $11,099 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 49°F
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
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $232k less ($314,400 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $671/mo less ($1,376 vs $2,047)
26% less violent crime than Fairfield
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $11,099/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$11,099
$98,857 vs $87,758/yr
Fairfield
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Violent Crime
26% lower
371.0 vs 498.0 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$232k less
$314,400 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 14 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 9 and Suffolk wins 14. 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $314,400 median home), income ($98,857 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,466 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.