Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 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
Modesto
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Modesto
Households earn $25,904 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $409k less ($381,800 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $492/mo less ($1,497 vs $1,989)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Smaller class sizes — 21.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $25,904/yr
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$25,904
$99,279 vs $73,375/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
31% lower
455.3 vs 655.7 per 100k
Fullerton
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Home Value
$409k less
$381,800 vs $791,000
Modesto
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 29.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 21.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories. Fullerton wins 12 and Modesto 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $381,800 median home), income ($99,279 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Modesto, CA are about 311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.