Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Alexandria leads 15 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Fullerton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
52% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $135k less ($655,700 vs $791,000)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,900 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Alexandria by $13,900/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$13,900
$113,179 vs $99,279/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
52% lower
219.1 vs 455.3 per 100k
Alexandria
Median Home Value
$135k less
$655,700 vs $791,000
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $99,279 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 44.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 142,280 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 15 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 15 and Fullerton wins 8. 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 Alexandria to Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $791,000 median home), income ($113,179 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Fullerton, CA are about 2,279 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.