Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Jacksonville, FL
🏆 Jacksonville leads 14 of 22 categories
Fullerton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280
Jacksonville
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,141 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Jacksonville
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 92°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 16% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $548k less ($243,000 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $708/mo less ($1,281 vs $1,989)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.8%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $35,141/yr
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$35,141
$99,279 vs $64,138/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
27% lower
455.3 vs 623.8 per 100k
Jacksonville
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 99.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$548k less
$243,000 vs $791,000
Jacksonville
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Jacksonville, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 99.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $243,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,281 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $64,138 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 11.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 164⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | DUVAL |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 65.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 53.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 950,203 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 57.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Jacksonville's 99.2 (US average = 100).
Jacksonville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 14 of 22 categories. Fullerton wins 8 and Jacksonville wins 14. 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 Jacksonville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $243,000 median home), income ($99,279 vs $64,138), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Jacksonville, FL are about 2,126 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.