Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 11 of 20 categories
Carson
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Fullerton
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($616,000 vs $791,000)
8% less violent crime than Fullerton
Rent averages $174/mo less ($1,815 vs $1,989)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Smaller class sizes — 23.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,766 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fullerton, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$3,766
$103,045 vs $99,279/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
8% lower
420.0 vs 455.3 per 100k
Carson
Median Home Value
$175k less
$616,000 vs $791,000
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Fullerton
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $99,279 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 11 of 20 categories. Carson wins 9 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 Carson to Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $791,000 median home), income ($103,045 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Fullerton, CA are about 19 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.