Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Glendale, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 11 of 21 categories
Fullerton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280
Glendale
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($791,000 vs $992,000)
Households earn $18,060 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.9%)
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)
Glendale, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Fullerton
Smaller class sizes — 23.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Median income trails Fullerton by $18,060/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$18,060
$99,279 vs $81,219/yr
Fullerton
Median Home Value
$201k less
$791,000 vs $992,000
Fullerton
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Glendale
Violent Crime
37% lower
287.2 vs 455.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Glendale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $992,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $81,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 23.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Glendale Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 85.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 194,512 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 41.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Glendale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Glendale leads 11 of 21 categories. Fullerton wins 10 and Glendale wins 11. 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $992,000 median home), income ($99,279 vs $81,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Glendale, CA are about 27 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.