Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Pasadena, 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 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
5% less violent crime than Pasadena
Homes cost $191k less ($791,000 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $111/mo less ($1,989 vs $2,100)
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 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$1,461
$99,279 vs $97,818/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
5% lower
455.3 vs 480.4 per 100k
Fullerton
Median Home Value
$191k less
$791,000 vs $981,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Pasadena, 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 | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $97,818 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 68.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pasadena'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 Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $981,600 median home), income ($99,279 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Pasadena, CA are about 22 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.