City Comparison
Fairfield vs East Hartford
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
East Hartford scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Fairfield
East Hartford
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
East Hartford is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
24% lower than in Fairfield.
Housing costs are a major driver: Fairfield's average rent is
52% higher than East Hartford's.
| Metric | Fairfield | East Hartford | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,400 | $1,583 | +52% |
| Groceries | $500 | $350 | +43% |
| Utilities | $210 | $250 | -16% |
| Transport | $150 | $300 | -50% |
| Healthcare | $280 | $200 | +40% |
| Monthly Total | $3,540 | $2,683 | +32% |
| Cost Index | 138 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Fairfield offers 157% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Fairfield delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Fairfield is estimated at
$85,000 vs $29,796 in East Hartford.
| Metric | Fairfield | East Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $92,000 | $35,770 |
| Salary Needed | $85,000 | $29,796 |
| Purchasing Power | 66,667 idx | 37,653 idx |
| Household Income | $165,000 | $70,778 |
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 | East Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
East Hartford 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 | East Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 32 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 62.0/100 | 26.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 33.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 50.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Fairfield is the larger city
— approximately 1.2x the population of East Hartford.
From a growth perspective, Fairfield is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Fairfield has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Fairfield | East Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 61,512 | 50,693 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | — |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 38.1 |
| Unemployment | 3.50% | 4.90% |
| 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.
East Hartford
Advantages
The median household income in East Hartford grew by 5.73% from 2023 to 2024, reaching $70,778.
East Hartford's violent crime rate is 89% below the national average, contributing to a high safety score.
The cost of living in East Hartford is 11% lower than the Connecticut average, making it more affordable.
The average commute time of 22.4 minutes is shorter than the national average.
Employment in East Hartford grew at a rate of 2.21% from 2023 to 2024.
Drawbacks
East Hartford's population is projected to decline by -0.07% annually in 2026.
The town's Walk Score of 33 indicates it is car-dependent, with most errands requiring a car.
Educational attainment levels are lower than Hartford County, with 18% of residents having a four-year college degree or higher, compared to 40% in the County.
The Transit Score of 26 suggests limited public transportation options for car-free living.
East Hartford's crime rates are 17% higher than the Connecticut average, despite being lower than the national average for violent crime.
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
East Hartford
#18Connecticut, USA
73.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,583
Avg Salary
$35,770
Cost Index
95
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
26.0/100
Walkability
33.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
73
Business
68
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