2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

Fairfield

California (CA)
Best for: Bay Area and Sacramento-region households seeking high incomes, military employment and regional access
Fairfield CA 2027 livability
Medium City
2027 CITY CLASSMedium City100,000–299,999 residents
Modern Livability75.4/ 100
AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population122,489
Median Home$624,300
Median Rent$2,266
Median Household Income$101,895
Cost of LivingRPP 108.5 (US=100; BEA 2024)
Average Commute31.0 min
Unemployment4.9% (BLS 2024 annual avg)
Metro AreaVallejo, CA
2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

75.4overall
Housing & Financial Reality41.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living73.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability78.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity83.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness81.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place78.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion70.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape76.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging82.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment90.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture79.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity82.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionHigh. Regional commuting and major corridors can create recurring peak-hour delay.
Weekend EscapeExcellent. Major parks, mountains, coast, rivers or other regional recreation provide unusually strong weekend options.
WalkabilityAbout 47/100 citywide Walk Score. The city is generally car-dependent, so neighborhood choice strongly affects daily convenience.
Airport AccessGood to excellent. Regional airport access is practical, with larger nearby hubs expanding domestic and international options where needed.
Outdoor AccessGood to very good. Local parks, trails and regional recreation provide meaningful outdoor options.
Healthcare AccessStrong to excellent. Major hospitals, outpatient networks and specialty providers offer practical routine and advanced-care access.
Air QualityMixed. Ozone, wildfire smoke, traffic emissions or valley/inversion conditions can periodically reduce air quality.
Third Places / Social LifeGood to very good. Restaurants, parks, cafés, libraries and community events provide regular gathering places.
EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Growing
WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

Fairfield is included in the 2027 MNM Livability Index as the #246 most populous U.S. city in the Census Bureau's 2025 estimates. Its strongest advantages are bay area and sacramento access; high incomes; travis afb economy; wine-country proximity; parks. The clearest tradeoffs are high housing costs; long commutes; wildfire smoke; car dependence; summer heat. The MNM profile balances housing, everyday ease, safety, opportunity, wellness, beauty, mobility, nature, belonging, climate, culture and infrastructure rather than relying on a single headline metric.

REAL LIFE

What living here actually feels like

Fairfield feels shaped by bay area and sacramento access and its broader north bay / northern california setting. Neighborhood choice has a meaningful effect on commute, walkability, housing cost and overall day-to-day experience.

STRENGTHS

Where it shines

Bay Area and Sacramento access; high incomes; Travis AFB economy; wine-country proximity; parks.

TRADEOFFS

Where it falls short

High housing costs; long commutes; wildfire smoke; car dependence; summer heat.

ALL 2027 RANKINGS

Where Fairfield ranks