Moving from Fairfield, CA to Tyler, TX

Moving from Fairfield, CA to Tyler, TX is a 1835 mi cross-country relocation β€” about 32h 33m of driving through 4 states. At this range professional movers, a PODS or U-Pack container, or an auto-transport service are usually on the table. The sections below pull current BEA cost-of-living, Zillow ZHVI, Census ACS, BLS wages, and NOAA climate normals for a side-by-side view.

1835 mi Β· 32h 33m by car Β· CA β†’ AZ β†’ NM β†’ TX

COL -15.0% Home values -58.7% Ξ” +4.8Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1835 mi
Drive time
32h 33m
States
4
Fuel (25 mpg)
73 gal
Route throughCA β†’ AZ β†’ NM β†’ TX
Primary highwaysI 40, US 287, I 5
Major cities en routeVallejo, Richmond, Concord, Antioch, Elk Grove

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

FairfieldTylerU.S. avg
All items (RPP)108.47992.156100.0
Rents154.99382.904100.0
Goods105.16893.757100.0
Services142.04279.911100.0

RPP moves from 108.479 to 92.156, putting Tyler roughly 15.0% below Fairfield on the overall price level.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Fairfield β€” typical home
$609,269
Tyler β€” typical home
$251,563
Fairfield β€” typical rent
$2,425/mo
Tyler β€” typical rent
$1,296/mo

Homes run dramatically cheaper in Tyler: 15.0% below Fairfield on Zillow ZHVI (2026-03).

YoY change: Fairfield -2.4%, Tyler -1.0%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsFairfieldTyler
Annual avg temperature62Β°F67Β°F
January avg low40Β°F39Β°F
July avg high90Β°F93Β°F
Annual snowfall0.0"β€”
Annual precipitation24.5"47.7"

No material annual-average temperature gap; seasonal extremes may still differ.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: FAIRFIELD, CA US, TYLER, TX US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023FairfieldTyler
Population119,985107,718
Median household income$102,321$65,527
Median age36.835.5
Bachelor's degree or higher17.8%20.4%
Avg household size3.162.86

Median household income in Tyler is 15.0% below Fairfield ($102,321 vs $65,527, ACS 5-year 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Fairfield MSA β€” median wage
$53,520
Tyler MSA β€” median wage
$39,080
Fairfield MSA β€” employment
137,640
Tyler MSA β€” employment
111,520

Top occupations in Tyler MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 12,210 $37,410
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 11,080 $38,150
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations 10,660 $71,810
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 10,430 $26,300
Sales and Related Occupations 10,210 $30,020

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Texas

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Texas income tax
no state income tax

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Texas's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
  • I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
  • Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Air conditioning matters: July highs in Tyler average 93Β°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
  • Coastal Texas sees hurricanes June through November; inland areas face severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes in spring.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Texas after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to move from Fairfield to Tyler?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1835 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How does household income compare in Fairfield vs Tyler?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $65,527 in Tyler vs $102,321 in Fairfield β€” a 36.0% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

How does the job market in Tyler compare to Fairfield?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $39,080 in the Tyler MSA vs $53,520 in the Fairfield MSA, on total employment of 111,520 and 137,640 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How much do homes cost in Tyler compared to Fairfield?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $251,563 in Tyler vs $609,269 in Fairfield β€” a 58.7% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

Is Tyler more expensive than Fairfield?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Tyler is 15.0% lower than Fairfield (92.156 vs 108.479, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How far is Tyler, TX from Fairfield, CA?

The driving distance is 1835 mi and the route typically takes 32h 33m via I 40 and US 287. The trip crosses 4 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Fairfield.

City profiles: Fairfield, CA Β· Tyler, TX.

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