Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Fairfield leads 11 of 21 categories
Fairfield
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Worcester
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,846 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 32°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
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Worcester, MA
Pros
97% less violent crime than Fairfield
Homes cost $241k less ($305,600 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $735/mo less ($1,312 vs $2,047)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $35,846/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.5%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$35,846
$98,857 vs $63,011/yr
Fairfield
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Fairfield
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
97% lower
16.5 vs 498.0 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$241k less
$305,600 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 11 of 21 categories. Fairfield wins 11 and Worcester wins 10. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $305,600 median home), income ($98,857 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,624 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.