Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,441 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
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 18% higher than Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Homes cost $359k less ($187,400 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1091/mo less ($956 vs $2,047)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $44,441/yr
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$44,441
$98,857 vs $54,416/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
38% lower
498.0 vs 809.7 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$359k less
$187,400 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 23.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 12 and Winston-Salem wins 11. 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 Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $187,400 median home), income ($98,857 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Winston-Salem, NC are about 2,285 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.