Fairfield-Suisun City
RANK #854 / 996 NAT · #27 / 43 CA · POP 450,995
1YR FORECAST: -0.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +14%
Benicia, a historic waterfront city, stands out in Solano County, having served as California's state capital from 1853-1854. Located midway between San Francisco and Sacramento, Solano County offers a blend of rural and suburban living. Commute options include local and intercity bus services, passenger rail, and a ferry from Vallejo to San Francisco, which takes approximately an hour. The county boasts significant natural amenities, with rolling hillsides, fertile farmland, and extensive wetlands. Outdoor recreation opportunities are plentiful at Lake Berryessa for boating, swimming, and hiking, and Rush Ranch Open Space provides trails and wildlife viewing in a brackish tidal marsh.
Life in Solano County often appeals to families and commuters seeking a balance between accessibility to major urban centers and a more relaxed environment. The economy is diverse, supported by sectors such as advanced manufacturing, food and beverage, and biotechnology. Major investments are flowing into commercial and residential development, energy initiatives, and infrastructure improvements across the county. Educational opportunities are provided by several school districts, including Benicia Unified and Vacaville Unified.
Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.3x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
California Forever (New City, Manufacturing & Shipyard)
Flannery Associates
|
$49,000M | Proposed |
|
Highway 37 Widening (Sears Point-Mare Island)
Caltrans
|
$500M | Planned |
|
Corby Energy Storage Project
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC
|
$385M | Proposed |
|
I-80 Cordelia Truck Scales
Caltrans
|
$250M | Planned |
|
Solano 5 Wind Repower Project
SMUD
|
$94M | Proposed |
|
Solano 4 Wind Project
SMUD
|
$85M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Solano County scores just 14/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #854 of 996 counties. Job growth at +2.4% and median household income of $97,037 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Solano County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $549,100 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.18 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,981/month on average.
Employers in Solano County are hiring — job growth of +2.4% — but the population is close to flat (-0.1% YoY). Home values moved -3.1% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.34% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Solano County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.