Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Fairfield leads 15 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,123 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $303k less ($243,300 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1033/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,047)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $43,123/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$43,123
$98,857 vs $55,734/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
9% lower
498.0 vs 544.3 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$303k less
$243,300 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fairfield leads 15 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 15 and Yakima wins 8. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $243,300 median home), income ($98,857 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Yakima, WA are about 580 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.