Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 16 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Fullerton
California
16
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $487k less ($304,500 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $675/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,989)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $27,606/yr
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.9%)
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,606 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Chicago
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.9%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$487k less
$304,500 vs $791,000
Fullerton
Median Income
$27,606
$99,279 vs $71,673/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
16% lower
455.3 vs 539.8 per 100k
Fullerton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.2% unemployment
Fullerton
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 142,280 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 16 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 7 and Fullerton wins 16. 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 Chicago to Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $791,000 median home), income ($71,673 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Fullerton, CA are about 1,728 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.