Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 19 of 22 categories
Fullerton
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280
Peoria
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,520 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $407k less ($383,600 vs $791,000)
44% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $351/mo less ($1,638 vs $1,989)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $12,520/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$12,520
$99,279 vs $86,759/yr
Peoria
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Violent Crime
44% lower
254.7 vs 455.3 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$407k less
$383,600 vs $791,000
Peoria
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
20.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $86,759 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 29.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 19 of 22 categories. Fullerton wins 3 and Peoria wins 19. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $383,600 median home), income ($99,279 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Peoria, AZ are about 323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.