Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fullerton, CA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Fullerton leads 13 of 23 categories
Fullerton
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,279 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,280 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fullerton, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,545 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Yakima
More college-educated — 44.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 40°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $548k less ($243,300 vs $791,000)
Rent averages $975/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,989)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fullerton
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fullerton by $43,545/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fullerton
Median Income
$43,545
$99,279 vs $55,734/yr
Fullerton
Violent Crime
16% lower
455.3 vs 544.3 per 100k
Fullerton
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$548k less
$243,300 vs $791,000
Yakima
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fullerton, CA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $791,000⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,989⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,279 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.0 min⚠ High | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.3:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.0% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fullerton Elementary | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.9" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,280 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.6% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fullerton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fullerton leads 13 of 23 categories. Fullerton wins 13 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($791,000 vs $243,300 median home), income ($99,279 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fullerton, CA and Yakima, WA are about 889 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.