Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 15 of 21 categories
Compton
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Fullerton
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $302k less ($489,400 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $525/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,989)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $29,551/yr
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fullerton, CA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Compton
Households earn $29,551 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.9%)
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
Compton
Median Home Value
$302k less
$489,400 vs $791,000
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Fullerton
Median Income
$29,551
$99,279 vs $69,728/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
64% lower
455.3 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Fullerton
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Fullerton
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,989⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 11.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton'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 21 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 15 of 21 categories. Compton wins 6 and Fullerton wins 15. 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 Compton to Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $791,000 median home), income ($69,728 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Fullerton, CA are about 17 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.