City Comparison
Fairfield vs Cincinnati
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Fairfield scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Fairfield
Cincinnati
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Cincinnati is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
31% lower than in Fairfield.
Housing costs are a major driver: Fairfield's average rent is
70% higher than Cincinnati's.
| Metric | Fairfield | Cincinnati | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,400 | $1,410 | +70% |
| Groceries | $500 | $493 | +1% |
| Utilities | $210 | $178 | +18% |
| Transport | $150 | $120 | +25% |
| Healthcare | $280 | $250 | +12% |
| Monthly Total | $3,540 | $2,451 | +44% |
| Cost Index | 138 | 103 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Fairfield offers 16% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Cincinnati delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Fairfield is estimated at
$85,000 vs $55,000 in Cincinnati.
| Metric | Fairfield | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $92,000 | $79,000 |
| Salary Needed | $85,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 66,667 idx | 76,699 idx |
| Household Income | $165,000 | $52,909 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Fairfield runs warmer on average — a 53°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Fairfield comes out ahead with 248 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Fairfield sees 20.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Fairfield | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.00°F | °F |
| Summer High | 81.20°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 24.10°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 43.10 in | in |
| Snowfall | 20.60 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 248 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Cincinnati has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
5,000 minutes (83 hours) per year compared to Fairfield.
Fairfield scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Fairfield leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Fairfield | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 32 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 62.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 49.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 50.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cincinnati is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Fairfield.
From a growth perspective, Cincinnati is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Cincinnati has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Fairfield | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 61,512 | 314,915 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.70% |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 33.2 |
| Unemployment | 3.50% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Fairfield
Advantages
Consistently ranked among the safest municipalities in Connecticut with crime rates well below the national average per FBI crime data 2024.
Features five miles of scenic Long Island Sound coastline, including popular public beaches like Jennings and Penfield per Town of Fairfield records.
Excellent public school district with high graduation rates and strong college preparatory programs per Connecticut State Department of Education 2024.
Direct commuter access to New York City via multiple Metro-North Railroad stations on the New Haven Line per MTA data.
Vibrant downtown commercial district offering diverse dining, boutique shopping, and cultural venues per Fairfield Chamber of Commerce.
Drawbacks
Significantly higher cost of living and housing expenses compared to the national average per Zillow and C2ER data 2024.
High local property taxes driven by premium real estate values and municipal services per Town of Fairfield tax assessor records.
Peak-hour traffic congestion along Interstate 95 and the Post Road during standard commuter rush hours per CTDOT.
Competitive housing market with limited inventory for first-time buyers and renters per local real estate market reports 2024.
High cost of childcare and private education options within the local market per regional family resource data.
Cincinnati
Advantages
The cost of living in Cincinnati is 3% lower than the national average, making it more affordable than many major U.S. cities.
Cincinnati boasts a diverse and growing economy, with strong sectors in healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services.
The city offers a vibrant arts and culture scene, including museums, theaters, and a symphony orchestra.
Several neighborhoods, such as Over-The-Rhine and the Central Business District, are highly walkable, with Walk Scores of 94 and 92 respectively.
The median property value in Cincinnati was $230,900 in 2024, significantly lower than the national average, making homeownership more accessible.
Drawbacks
While some areas are highly walkable, the city's overall Walk Score of 49 indicates a car-dependent environment for most errands.
Public transportation, while available, is not considered the most dependable, often necessitating a personal vehicle.
The city's poverty rate was 25.5% in 2024, which is higher than the national average.
Cincinnati experiences extreme seasonal variations in humidity, with muggy summers and very cold, snowy winters.
The average commute time in the Cincinnati metropolitan area was 2 hours daily in 2023, which is relatively long compared to some other cities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Fairfield
#389Connecticut, USA
58.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,400
Avg Salary
$92,000
Cost Index
138
Commute
32 min
Transit Score
62.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
248/yr
Avg Temp
53.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.50%
Livability
89
Business
78
Cincinnati
#501Ohio, USA
52.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,410
Avg Salary
$79,000
Cost Index
103
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
49.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.70%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
70
Business
72
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