Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Independence leads 13 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Independence
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,864 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Independence
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°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
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Independence
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $640k less ($150,800 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $969/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,989)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $41,864/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$41,864
$99,279 vs $57,415/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
20% lower
455.3 vs 571.2 per 100k
Independence
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$640k less
$150,800 vs $791,000
Independence
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 122,218 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 13 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 10 and Independence wins 13. 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 Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $150,800 median home), income ($99,279 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Independence, MO are about 1,354 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.