Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 14 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Fullerton
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $545k less ($246,000 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $975/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,989)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $37,776/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,776 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 52°F
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$545k less
$246,000 vs $791,000
Albuquerque
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 84.4°F
Fullerton
Median Income
$37,776
$99,279 vs $61,503/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
61% lower
455.3 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 11.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 142,280 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 14 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 14 and Fullerton wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $791,000 median home), income ($61,503 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Fullerton, CA are about 648 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.