Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Tacoma 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
Tacoma
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $20,194 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $376k less ($415,300 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $500/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,989)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fullerton by $20,194/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$20,194
$99,279 vs $79,085/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
57% lower
455.3 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Fullerton
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$376k less
$415,300 vs $791,000
Tacoma
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Tacoma is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tacoma leads 12 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 11 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $415,300 median home), income ($99,279 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 953 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.