Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Salem
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,739 more per year on average
14% less violent crime than Salem
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Salem, OR
Pros
Homes cost $442k less ($349,500 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $765/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,989)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.1%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Smaller class sizes — 19.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $31,739/yr
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$31,739
$99,279 vs $67,540/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
14% lower
455.3 vs 532.2 per 100k
Salem
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$442k less
$349,500 vs $791,000
Salem
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 11 and Salem wins 12. 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $349,500 median home), income ($99,279 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Salem, OR are about 809 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.