A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Durham vs. Fairfield for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Durham or Fairfield?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Durham and Fairfield can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Durham or Fairfield?

Durham

Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.

Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.

Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.

Fairfield

The city of Fairfield is in Solano County, California, in the Sacramento Valley area. It's a medium sized city that is home to the Travis Air Force Base. It's also halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento along Interstate 80. There are a handful of interesting activities in the area. Consider visiting either the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area or the Hill Slough Wildlife Area both of which have hiking, fishing, birdwatching, and boating opportunities. You can also take a tour of the Jelly Belly Factory which is in town, or tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery which includes two complimentary beers and a limitless supply of pretzels. On Thursdays you can take a guided tour of the Travis Air Force Base. If you're interested in visited a working ranch, Rush Ranch is open to the public and can be a fun experience with an opportunity to visit with the animals.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durham and Fairfield, we can see that Durham is more expensive. And not only is Fairfield much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Fairfield would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fairfield and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Durham would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Durham than you might in Fairfield.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Durham Expensive? and Is Fairfield Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Fairfield?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 94% larger than the population of Fairfield. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Fairfield, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Durham or Fairfield?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Durham or Fairfield in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Durham as well as Fairfield. Many travelers come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Durham is a little warmer than Fairfield. Typically, the summer temperatures in Durham in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Fairfield averages at about 73°F (23°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Fairfield. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Fairfield. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Fairfield receives 439 hours of full sun.

Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Fairfield. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Fairfield in the Autumn?

Both Fairfield and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Durham in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In October, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Fairfield. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 61°F (16°C), and Fairfield fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

It's quite sunny in Fairfield. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives less sunshine than Fairfield during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Fairfield receives 300 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives more rain than Fairfield. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Fairfield in the Winter?

Both Fairfield and Durham during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Durham can be very cold during winter. Durham is much colder than Fairfield in the winter. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Fairfield fluctuates around 46°F (8°C).

In the winter, Durham often gets more sunshine than Fairfield. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Fairfield receives 149 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets less rain in January than Fairfield. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Fairfield in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Fairfield.

In the spring, Durham is a little warmer than Fairfield. Typically, the spring temperatures in Durham in April average around 60°F (16°C), and Fairfield averages at about 56°F (13°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Fairfield this time of the year. In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives less sunshine than Fairfield during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Fairfield receives 328 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives more rain than Fairfield. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Fairfield and Durham