Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 14 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Fontana
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Fontana, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Boston
Homes cost $178k less ($506,600 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $365/mo less ($1,616 vs $1,981)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 37°F
Households earn $4,018 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Median Income
$4,018
$93,230 vs $89,212/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
57% lower
270.2 vs 627.9 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$178k less
$506,600 vs $684,900
Fontana
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 209,279 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 14 of 23 categories. Boston wins 9 and Fontana wins 14. 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 Boston to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $506,600 median home), income ($89,212 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Fontana, CA are about 2,551 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.