Moving from Fullerton, CA to Vallejo, CA

Moving from Fullerton, CA to Vallejo, CA covers 410 mi and about 7h 42m by car through 1 state(s). That is far enough that housing, cost-of-living, climate, and job market can all move meaningfully β€” the sections below pull current figures from BEA, Zillow, the Census Bureau, BLS, and NOAA to map exactly where the differences fall.

410 mi Β· 7h 42m by car Β· CA

COL -4.5% Home values -50.4% Ξ” -4.6Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
410 mi
Drive time
7h 42m
States
1
Fuel (25 mpg)
16 gal
Route throughCA
Primary highwaysI 5, I 5 TRUCK, I 580
Major cities en routeAnaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

FullertonVallejoU.S. avg
All items (RPP)113.566108.479100.0
Rents158.589154.993100.0
Goods106.623105.168100.0
Services170.433142.042100.0

Overall cost of living in Vallejo and Fullerton is within Β±5% on the BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) β€” plan your budget on category-level differences instead.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Fullerton β€” typical home
$1,050,945
Vallejo β€” typical home
$520,970
Fullerton β€” typical rent
$2,778/mo
Vallejo β€” typical rent
$2,136/mo

Typical home value in Vallejo is 4.5% below Fullerton β€” $1,050,945 vs $520,970 per Zillow ZHVI (2026-03).

YoY change: Fullerton -0.4%, Vallejo -5.4%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsFullertonVallejo
Annual avg temperature66Β°F62Β°F
January avg low46Β°F42Β°F
July avg high84Β°F85Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”β€”
Annual precipitation11.9"21.5"

Annual average temperatures in Fullerton (66.2Β°F) and Vallejo (61.6Β°F) stay within 5Β°F of each other (NOAA normals).

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: FULLERTON MUNI AP, CA US, VALLEJO, CA US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023FullertonVallejo
Population141,278124,637
Median household income$104,219$89,496
Median age36.140
Bachelor's degree or higher27.4%19.7%
Avg household size2.982.84

Median household income in Vallejo is 4.5% below Fullerton ($104,219 β†’ $89,496, ACS 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Fullerton MSA β€” median wage
$50,490
Vallejo MSA β€” median wage
$53,520
Fullerton MSA β€” employment
6,185,570
Vallejo MSA β€” employment
137,640

Top occupations in Vallejo MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 14,510 $51,200
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 13,960 $36,120
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 12,440 $43,450
Sales and Related Occupations 12,220 $37,910
Healthcare Support Occupations 10,450 $34,840

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Wildfire season in California typically peaks July through October β€” register for county emergency alerts during unpack.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.

Frequently asked

How does the job market in Vallejo compare to Fullerton?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $53,520 in the Vallejo MSA vs $50,490 in the Fullerton MSA, on total employment of 137,640 and 6,185,570 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How much do homes cost in Vallejo compared to Fullerton?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $520,970 in Vallejo vs $1,050,945 in Fullerton β€” a 50.4% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How does household income compare in Fullerton vs Vallejo?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $89,496 in Vallejo vs $104,219 in Fullerton β€” a 14.1% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

Is Vallejo more expensive than Fullerton?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Vallejo is 4.5% lower than Fullerton (108.479 vs 113.566, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How far is Vallejo, CA from Fullerton, CA?

The driving distance is 410 mi and the route typically takes 7h 42m via I 5 and I 5 TRUCK. The trip crosses 1 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

When is the best time to move from Fullerton to Vallejo?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 410 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Fullerton.

City profiles: Fullerton, CA Β· Vallejo, CA.

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