Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Boulder leads 12 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Fullerton
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
29% less violent crime than Fullerton
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Rent averages $136/mo less ($1,853 vs $1,989)
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $19,036/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 85" of snow per year
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,036 more per year on average
Homes cost $129k less ($791,000 vs $919,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.4%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Boulder
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Boulder
Violent Crime
29% lower
322.3 vs 455.3 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Boulder
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 84.4°F
Fullerton
Median Income
$19,036
$99,279 vs $80,243/yr
Fullerton
Median Home Value
$129k less
$791,000 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $791,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 44.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Boulder is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boulder leads 12 of 23 categories. Boulder 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 Boulder to Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $791,000 median home), income ($80,243 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Fullerton, CA are about 817 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.