Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster leads 14 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,651
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Households earn $8,628 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $791,000
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)
Higher rents — median is $1,989/mo
Westminster, CO
Pros
Homes cost $324k less ($467,200 vs $791,000)
33% less violent crime than Fullerton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.1%)
Rent averages $257/mo less ($1,732 vs $1,989)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fullerton by $8,628/yr
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$8,628
$99,279 vs $90,651/yr
Westminster
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Westminster
Violent Crime
33% lower
303.6 vs 455.3 per 100k
Westminster
Median Home Value
$324k less
$467,200 vs $791,000
Westminster
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Westminster
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $467,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,732⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $90,651 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Westminster is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 14 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 9 and Westminster wins 14. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $467,200 median home), income ($99,279 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Westminster, CO are about 822 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.