Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem 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
Orem
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,568
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,711 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
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 Orem
Orem, UT
Pros
Homes cost $398k less ($392,900 vs $791,000)
62% less violent crime than Fullerton
Rent averages $699/mo less ($1,290 vs $1,989)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.4%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $21,711/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$21,711
$99,279 vs $77,568/yr
Orem
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Orem
Violent Crime
62% lower
174.5 vs 455.3 per 100k
Orem
Median Home Value
$398k less
$392,900 vs $791,000
Orem
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $392,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,290 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $77,568 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 24.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 59.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Orem is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 15 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 8 and Orem 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 Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $392,900 median home), income ($99,279 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Orem, UT are about 560 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.