Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 15 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Stamford
Connecticut
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Rent averages $140/mo less ($1,989 vs $2,129)
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 unemployment (6.9% vs 5.5%)
Stamford, CT
Pros
65% less violent crime than Fullerton
Homes cost $206k less ($584,700 vs $791,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.5%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Stamford
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Median Income
$1,439
$100,718 vs $99,279/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
65% lower
157.5 vs 455.3 per 100k
Stamford
Median Home Value
$206k less
$584,700 vs $791,000
Stamford
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $584,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 15 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 8 and Stamford wins 15. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $584,700 median home), income ($99,279 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Stamford, CT are about 2,456 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.