Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen 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
McAllen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,953 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than McAllen
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $632k less ($158,700 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $1034/mo less ($955 vs $1,989)
67% less violent crime than Fullerton
30% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $42,953/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$42,953
$99,279 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
67% lower
150.0 vs 455.3 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$632k less
$158,700 vs $791,000
McAllen
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 27.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 15 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 8 and McAllen 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $158,700 median home), income ($99,279 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and McAllen, TX are about 1,288 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.