Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Daly City, CA
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories
Daly City
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,910 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
78 ✓ Safer
Population
103,648
Fullerton
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Daly City, CA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Households earn $15,631 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 84°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,073,100
Higher rents — median is $2,554/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Fullerton
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($791,000 vs $1,073,100)
Rent averages $565/mo less ($1,989 vs $2,554)
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Daly City
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)
Median income trails Daly City by $15,631/yr
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Daly City
Median Income
$15,631
$114,910 vs $99,279/yr
Daly City
Violent Crime
35% lower
296.3 vs 455.3 per 100k
Daly City
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Fullerton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fullerton
Median Home Value
$282k less
$791,000 vs $1,073,100
Fullerton
Summer Heat
22.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Daly City, CA | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,073,100⚠ High | $791,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,554⚠ High | $1,989⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $114,910 ✓ Higher | $99,279 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 86 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.5% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.8% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson Elementary | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.6" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,648 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.5% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Daly City's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fullerton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories. Daly City wins 10 and Fullerton wins 12. 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 Daly City to Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,073,100 vs $791,000 median home), income ($114,910 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Daly City, CA and Fullerton, CA are about 366 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.