Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Austin leads 12 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Fullerton
California
11
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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $330k less ($461,500 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $440/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,989)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.4%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fullerton by $12,723/yr
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,723 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 63°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Austin
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Home Value
$330k less
$461,500 vs $791,000
Austin
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
12.2°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 84.4°F
Fullerton
Median Income
$12,723
$99,279 vs $86,556/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
2% lower
455.3 vs 466.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 44.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 142,280 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Austin is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 12 of 23 categories. Austin wins 12 and Fullerton wins 11. 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 Austin to Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $791,000 median home), income ($86,556 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Fullerton, CA are about 1,205 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.