Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 11 of 21 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Fontana
California
11
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $276k less ($230,500 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $550/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.1%)
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $35,527/yr
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,527 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Chattanooga
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$276k less
$230,500 vs $506,600
Chattanooga
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.2% unemployment
Fontana
Median Income
$35,527
$93,230 vs $57,703/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
67% lower
270.2 vs 823.7 per 100k
Fontana
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $506,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,616⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 209,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fontana leads 11 of 21 categories. Chattanooga wins 10 and Fontana wins 11. 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 Chattanooga to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $506,600 median home), income ($57,703 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Fontana, CA are about 1,826 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.