Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Livonia, MI
🏆 Livonia leads 15 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Livonia
Michigan
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$92,458
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 30°F
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,821 more per year on average
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 18% higher than Livonia
Livonia, MI
Pros
Homes cost $542k less ($249,000 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $754/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,989)
50% less violent crime than Fullerton
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.0%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $6,821/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$6,821
$99,279 vs $92,458/yr
Livonia
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Livonia
Violent Crime
50% lower
228.1 vs 455.3 per 100k
Livonia
Median Home Value
$542k less
$249,000 vs $791,000
Livonia
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Livonia, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $249,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $92,458 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 13.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Livonia Public Schools School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 30.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 33.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 94,928 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 45.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Livonia's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Livonia is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 15 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 8 and Livonia wins 15. 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 Livonia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $249,000 median home), income ($99,279 vs $92,458), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Livonia, MI are about 1,952 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.