Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 13 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Homes cost $71k less ($546,200 vs $617,300)
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $115/mo less ($2,047 vs $2,162)
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tracy by $12,860/yr
Tracy, CA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Fairfield
Households earn $12,860 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$71k less
$546,200 vs $617,300
Tracy
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$12,860
$111,717 vs $98,857/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
39% lower
301.4 vs 498.0 per 100k
Tracy
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tracy leads 13 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 9 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $617,300 median home), income ($98,857 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Tracy, CA are about 49 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.