Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 12 of 21 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
Palmdale
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
17% less violent crime than Palmdale
Households earn $20,865 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 98°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)
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Homes cost $394k less ($397,500 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $364/mo less ($1,625 vs $1,989)
Smaller class sizes — 23.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fullerton by $20,865/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Longer commutes — 41.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$20,865
$99,279 vs $78,414/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
17% lower
455.3 vs 551.0 per 100k
Fullerton
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.4% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Palmdale
Median Home Value
$394k less
$397,500 vs $791,000
Palmdale
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 12 of 21 categories. Fullerton wins 12 and Palmdale wins 9. 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $397,500 median home), income ($99,279 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Palmdale, CA are about 50 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.