Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 12 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Fontana
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $345k less ($161,800 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $556/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (2.8%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $33,976/yr
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,976 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Abilene
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$345k less
$161,800 vs $506,600
Abilene
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Fontana
Median Income
$33,976
$93,230 vs $59,254/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
36% lower
270.2 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $506,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,616⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 209,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 12 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 11 and Fontana wins 12. 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 Abilene to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $506,600 median home), income ($59,254 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Fontana, CA are about 1,029 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.