Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 14 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,336 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 41°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°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 20% higher than Provo
Provo, UT
Pros
Homes cost $400k less ($391,500 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $900/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,989)
55% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.4%)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $41,336/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$41,336
$99,279 vs $57,943/yr
Provo
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
55% lower
206.6 vs 455.3 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$400k less
$391,500 vs $791,000
Provo
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Provo
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 54 ✓ 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 (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 14 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 9 and Provo wins 14. 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $391,500 median home), income ($99,279 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Provo, UT are about 559 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.