Should I Move To
Fairfield, California is home to about 119,420 people. On cost of living, it lands in the expensive band — 29% above the national average. The median renter pays around $2,047 a month against a typical household income of $98,857. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 56 out of 100 (grade C), putting it at #290 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Inverse of violent + property crime rate per 100,000 residents.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Fairfield's composite cost-of-living index lands at 129 (100 = US average), which puts it in the expensive band. At $2,047/mo against $98,857 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 25% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $546,200.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is mild — summer averages around 72°F, winter averages around 43°F. Precipitation totals about 19 inches a year. Walking covers most daily life if you live in a central neighborhood; a car is helpful for longer trips but not essential. Reported crime is somewhat above average, though specific neighborhoods vary widely. AQI runs about 44 — a "good" reading.
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Fairfield doesn't obviously fit families. The profile-weighted score is 42/100 — a D. Its standout dimension is climate (99/100); the soft spot is affordability (3/100).
Fairfield doesn't obviously fit retirees. The profile-weighted score is 53/100 — a C-. Its standout dimension is climate (99/100); the soft spot is affordability (3/100).
Fairfield doesn't obviously fit remote workers. The profile-weighted score is 45/100 — a D. Its standout dimension is climate (99/100); the soft spot is affordability (3/100).
Fairfield reads as a moderate fit for young professionals. The profile-weighted score is 59/100 — a C. Its standout dimension is climate (99/100); the soft spot is affordability (3/100).
Our overall score for Fairfield is 56/100 — a C, sitting at #290 in the national ranking. It's a weighted average across the seven UrbRank dimensions.
By the composite index, Fairfield sits at 129 — expensive, 29% above the national average. Median renter pays around $2,047 a month.
Fairfield runs mild on the weather. Summer's near 72°F, winter's near 43°F; 19 inches of precipitation annually.
Walk Score: 74/100. Walking covers most daily life if you live in a central neighborhood; a car is helpful for longer trips but not essential.
Roughly 119,420 people live here, with 28% college-educated (bachelor's or higher) among adults 25+ with a median age of 36.
Drop Fairfield into the comparison tool with any other US city and you'll get housing costs, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life data lined up side by side. Profile-specific leaderboards (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals) are linked from the navigation.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Fairfield with other California cities scored on UrbRank.
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