Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Fullerton leads 12 of 21 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
West Covina
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
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
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Households earn $3,060 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)
West Covina, CA
Pros
47% less violent crime than Fullerton
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $127k less ($664,500 vs $791,000)
Smaller class sizes — 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Median income trails Fullerton by $3,060/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$3,060
$99,279 vs $96,219/yr
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 115.5 on the COL index
West Covina
Violent Crime
47% lower
239.3 vs 455.3 per 100k
West Covina
Median Home Value
$127k less
$664,500 vs $791,000
West Covina
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $664,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $96,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 21.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 67.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 12 of 21 categories. Fullerton wins 12 and West Covina wins 9. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $664,500 median home), income ($99,279 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and West Covina, CA are about 12 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.