Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Fullerton, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Fullerton
California
12
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($546,200 vs $791,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Fullerton, CA
Pros
9% less violent crime than Fairfield
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 57°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
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 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$245k less
$546,200 vs $791,000
Fairfield
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Fairfield
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.4°F
Fullerton
Violent Crime
9% lower
455.3 vs 498.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Fullerton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $791,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,989⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 | $99,279 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 44.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Fullerton Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 142,280 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Fullerton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories. Fairfield 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 Fairfield to Fullerton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $791,000 median home), income ($98,857 vs $99,279), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Fullerton, CA are about 379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.