Fullerton, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Fullerton, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Fullerton →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
With a population near 142,280, Fullerton, California sits above the multi-city income median: households earn a typical $99,279 per year (+38% vs. that benchmark).
Home values in Fullerton run a median $791,000, above the benchmark across cities in our dataset (+142%). Renters see a median monthly cost of $1,989. Mortgage rates and property taxes are worth checking before you commit either way.
Home prices in Fullerton run about 8.0× median household income — a stretched ratio that puts real pressure on affordability for local buyers. Home values near Fullerton rose 3.33% in the past year, a pace most would call steady rather than hot. Fullerton carries a Very High hazard rating from FEMA — elevated risk that's typically reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,989/mo in Fullerton would take 24.0% of your income.
$493/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($791,000) would take 51.0% of your income toward principal & interest.
$1,906/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Fullerton
Median home value is $791,000 and median gross rent is $1,989/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Orange rose 3.33% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $3,236/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Fullerton's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Fullerton reported a violent crime rate of 362.7 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Fullerton
Planning a move to Fullerton? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Fullerton, CA?
- For a quick read on Fullerton: homes carry a median value of $791,000, rent runs a median $1,989 monthly, and household income is a median $99,279, all from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fullerton?
- Comfortably affording rent in Fullerton — where the median runs $1,989/month — typically means earning about $79,560 a year, per the standard 30%-of-income benchmark. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Fullerton.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Fullerton?
- Fullerton's median rent of $1,989/month translates to about $79,560 a year needed to rent comfortably, versus roughly $180,977 a year for principal and interest on the $791,000 median home (20% down, 30-year fixed, today's rates). How long you'll stay is usually the deciding factor.
- Is Fullerton safe?
- In 2025, Fullerton reported 362.7 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, according to FBI data.
See the full salary breakdown for Fullerton →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Fullerton's.