Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Fullerton
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280
Riverside
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
23% less violent crime than Riverside
Households earn $15,831 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
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 rents — median is $1,989/mo
Riverside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $306k less ($485,500 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $278/mo less ($1,711 vs $1,989)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.1%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Smaller class sizes — 23.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fullerton by $15,831/yr
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$15,831
$99,279 vs $83,448/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
23% lower
455.3 vs 589.7 per 100k
Riverside
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Home Value
$306k less
$485,500 vs $791,000
Riverside
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $83,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 23.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fullerton wins 11 and Riverside wins 11. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $485,500 median home), income ($99,279 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Riverside, CA are about 31 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.