Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 15 of 21 categories
Fullerton
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Richmond
Households earn $12,661 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Violent crime (455.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Richmond, CA
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($624,800 vs $791,000)
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 84°F
Rent averages $136/mo less ($1,853 vs $1,989)
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Median income trails Fullerton by $12,661/yr
Property crime (2762.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fullerton
Median Income
$12,661
$99,279 vs $86,618/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
51% lower
455.3 vs 923.1 per 100k
Fullerton
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Home Value
$166k less
$624,800 vs $791,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $624,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $86,618 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 24.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Fullerton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 15 of 21 categories. Fullerton wins 15 and Richmond wins 6. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $624,800 median home), income ($99,279 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Richmond, CA are about 375 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.