Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 13 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273
Fontana
California
13
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.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $407k less ($99,700 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $729/mo less ($887 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $46,634/yr
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2955.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.2%)
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,634 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Akron
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Akron
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$407k less
$99,700 vs $506,600
Fontana
Median Income
$46,634
$93,230 vs $46,596/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
67% lower
270.2 vs 820.3 per 100k
Fontana
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 85.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $506,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $1,616⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 | 209,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Akron is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 13 of 23 categories. Akron wins 10 and Fontana wins 13. 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 Akron to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $506,600 median home), income ($46,596 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Fontana, CA are about 2,011 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.