Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Hesperia, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories
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
Hesperia
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,581 more per year on average
12% less violent crime than Hesperia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (6.9%)
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
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)
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $453k less ($337,600 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $553/mo less ($1,436 vs $1,989)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Smaller class sizes — 23.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $31,581/yr
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.9%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$31,581
$99,279 vs $67,698/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
12% lower
455.3 vs 519.6 per 100k
Fullerton
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
6.9% vs 9.8% unemployment
Hesperia
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$453k less
$337,600 vs $791,000
Hesperia
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Hesperia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $67,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 42.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 23.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 78.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Hesperia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" | 11.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 99,878 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 63.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 29.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Hesperia's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Hesperia is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories. Fullerton wins 12 and Hesperia wins 10. 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 Hesperia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $337,600 median home), income ($99,279 vs $67,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Hesperia, CA are about 50 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.