Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 14 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Fontana
California
14
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Median income trails Fontana by $12,987/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fontana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $413k less ($506,600 vs $919,700)
16% less violent crime than Boulder
Households earn $12,987 more per year on average
Rent averages $237/mo less ($1,616 vs $1,853)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Boulder
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Fontana
Median Income
$12,987
$93,230 vs $80,243/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
16% lower
270.2 vs 322.3 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$413k less
$506,600 vs $919,700
Fontana
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 209,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Boulder is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 14 of 23 categories. Boulder 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 Boulder to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $506,600 median home), income ($80,243 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Fontana, CA are about 786 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.