Is Fullerton, CA a Good Place to Live?
Fullerton is a mid-sized city of 142,280 in California, with a median household income of $99,279 and a 6.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.
Strengths: Fullerton stands out for solid school ratings (B-), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Fullerton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Fullerton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 115.5Fullerton's overall cost of living index is 115.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fullerton costs roughly 16% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $791,000 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $99,279 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageFullerton's violent crime rate is 455.3 per 100,000 residents — 20% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Fullerton is served primarily by Fullerton Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 25.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Fullerton Elementary | — |
| Elementary Schools | 17 | — |
| Middle Schools | 3 | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 25.3:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 89.7% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Fullerton sees average highs of 68.8°F in January and 84.4°F in July, with 11.9 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 68.8°F |
| Average High — July | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 142,280 | — |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 30.0 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 47.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 2.2% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 21.1% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 25.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 13.8% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Fullerton
Fullerton, CA is covered by 4 ZIP codes: