Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Fontana
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($246,000 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $602/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $31,727/yr
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fontana, CA
Pros
77% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Households earn $31,727 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Albuquerque
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$261k less
$246,000 vs $506,600
Albuquerque
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Fontana
Median Income
$31,727
$93,230 vs $61,503/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
77% lower
270.2 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $506,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,616⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 209,279 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 15 and Fontana wins 8. 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 Albuquerque to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $506,600 median home), income ($61,503 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Fontana, CA are about 619 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.