Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 13 of 22 categories
Berkeley
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Fontana
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230
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.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Households earn $11,486 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Fontana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $774k less ($506,600 vs $1,280,300)
58% less violent crime than Berkeley
Rent averages $451/mo less ($1,616 vs $2,067)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $11,486/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$11,486
$104,716 vs $93,230/yr
Berkeley
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Fontana
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Violent Crime
58% lower
270.2 vs 638.8 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$774k less
$506,600 vs $1,280,300
Fontana
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $93,230 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 209,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fontana leads 13 of 22 categories. Berkeley wins 9 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 Berkeley to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $506,600 median home), income ($104,716 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Fontana, CA are about 375 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.