Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 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
Knoxville
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,970 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Knoxville
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 23% higher than Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $607k less ($184,200 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $946/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,989)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $50,970/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$50,970
$99,279 vs $48,309/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
38% lower
455.3 vs 740.3 per 100k
Knoxville
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$607k less
$184,200 vs $791,000
Knoxville
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories. Fullerton wins 12 and Knoxville 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $184,200 median home), income ($99,279 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Knoxville, TN are about 1,921 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.