Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 Fullerton leads 12 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$81,719
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
138,868
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 $17,560 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°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 19% higher than West Valley City
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Homes cost $457k less ($333,600 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $629/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,989)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.0%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 22.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fullerton by $17,560/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$17,560
$99,279 vs $81,719/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
3% lower
455.3 vs 469.5 per 100k
West Valley City
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$457k less
$333,600 vs $791,000
West Valley City
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 96.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $81,719 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 22.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
West Valley City is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 12 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 12 and West Valley City 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 West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $333,600 median home), income ($99,279 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and West Valley City, UT are about 571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.