Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 13 of 21 categories
Fairfield
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Rent averages $94/mo less ($2,047 vs $2,141)
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Median income trails Vacaville by $7,907/yr
Vacaville, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Fairfield
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,907 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 21.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$14k less
$546,200 vs $560,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 109.2 on the COL index
Vacaville
Median Income
$7,907
$106,764 vs $98,857/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
41% lower
293.2 vs 498.0 per 100k
Vacaville
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 13 of 21 categories. Fairfield wins 8 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $560,400 median home), income ($98,857 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Vacaville, CA are about 8 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.