Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 19 of 22 categories
Fullerton
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280
Gilbert
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 104°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)
Median income trails Gilbert by $15,900/yr
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $337k less ($454,300 vs $791,000)
71% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,900 more per year on average
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$15,900
$115,179 vs $99,279/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
71% lower
132.2 vs 455.3 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$337k less
$454,300 vs $791,000
Gilbert
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
19.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 20.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 267,267 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 19 of 22 categories. Fullerton wins 3 and Gilbert wins 19. 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 Fullerton to Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $454,300 median home), income ($99,279 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Gilbert, AZ are about 358 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.