Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories
Fullerton
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,715
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,564 more per year on average
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)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Vista
Vista, CA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Fullerton
Homes cost $168k less ($622,900 vs $791,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 84°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.7:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Median income trails Fullerton by $10,564/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$10,564
$99,279 vs $88,715/yr
Fullerton
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 84.4°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Vista
Violent Crime
31% lower
316.4 vs 455.3 per 100k
Vista
Median Home Value
$168k less
$622,900 vs $791,000
Vista
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $622,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $88,715 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 11.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 20.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 13.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Vista is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 12 of 22 categories. Fullerton wins 12 and Vista wins 10. 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $622,900 median home), income ($99,279 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Vista, CA are about 62 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.