Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 13 of 22 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
Waco
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,436 more per year on average
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 18% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $372k less ($174,100 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1009/mo less ($1,038 vs $2,047)
14% less violent crime than Fairfield
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $51,436/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$51,436
$98,857 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
14% lower
425.9 vs 498.0 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$372k less
$174,100 vs $546,200
Waco
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.5% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 13 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 9 and Waco 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $174,100 median home), income ($98,857 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,476 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.