Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 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
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,858 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°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
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $617k less ($174,100 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $951/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,989)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
6% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $51,858/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$51,858
$99,279 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
6% lower
425.9 vs 455.3 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$617k less
$174,100 vs $791,000
Waco
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.9% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fullerton wins 11 and Waco 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $174,100 median home), income ($99,279 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.