Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 16 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
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 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Households earn $5,983 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Meridian
Meridian, ID
Pros
Homes cost $365k less ($425,800 vs $791,000)
68% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (2.7%)
Rent averages $441/mo less ($1,548 vs $1,989)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $5,983/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$5,983
$99,279 vs $93,296/yr
Meridian
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Violent Crime
68% lower
146.8 vs 455.3 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$365k less
$425,800 vs $791,000
Meridian
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
2.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $93,296 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 43.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 12.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 16 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 7 and Meridian wins 16. 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 Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $425,800 median home), income ($99,279 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Meridian, ID are about 677 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.