Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 13 of 21 categories
Fullerton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Rent averages $159/mo less ($1,989 vs $2,148)
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $57k less ($791,000 vs $848,200)
Cons
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.7%)
Median income trails Orange by $10,056/yr
Orange, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $10,056 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Home Value
$57k less
$791,000 vs $848,200
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Orange
Median Income
$10,056
$109,335 vs $99,279/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
50% lower
226.1 vs 455.3 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 14.1% ✓ 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 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 24.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 40.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Orange leads 13 of 21 categories. Fullerton wins 8 and Orange wins 13. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $848,200 median home), income ($99,279 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Orange, CA are about 8 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.