2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Fairfax, VA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in Fairfax?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 1.4 years older than in Fairfax.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or Fairfax?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 133.2% more expensive than Fairfax housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or Fairfax?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 14.0 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Fairfax.

Things to do in Fairfax?
Fairfax is an incorporated city sitting within Fairfax County, Virginia featuring plenty of things to do during your stay like attending concerts at the historic Sunnyside Botanical Garden suitable for those looking to enjoy some family friendly fun plus nearby Sully Historic Site has stunning views ideal for outdoor activities. Additionally there are several locally owned stores and eateries providing unique items or delicious cuisine great for any budget during their stay here!

Things to do in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara, California has something for everyone - from fantastic beaches to world-class shopping and dining experiences. Visitors can explore Old Mission Santa Barbara or take part in various water activities around Stearns Wharf.

 Fairfax, VASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$118,492  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$654,200  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time31.15  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Fairfax    28 Reviews

I lived in the area for 17 years through high school until I eventually became a truck driver. Having now seen most states extensively, I wanted to fairly review what  More

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Living in Fairfax, or any of the Northern Virginia suburbs of DC, means dealing with highways that are a Gordian knot of converging lanes and overpasses, making long  More

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Over 10 years ago

The Cost of living here is high. Though the standard of living is also high, unless you're making over 50,000/year, it's difficult to both live and build any sort of  More

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Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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