Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 17 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $364/mo less ($1,989 vs $2,353)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $48,948/yr
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
70% less violent crime than Fullerton
Households earn $48,948 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Homes cost $154k less ($637,400 vs $791,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$48,948
$148,227 vs $99,279/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
70% lower
138.1 vs 455.3 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Median Home Value
$154k less
$637,400 vs $791,000
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $637,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 18.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 17 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 6 and Highlands Ranch wins 17. 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $637,400 median home), income ($99,279 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 816 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.