Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 13 of 22 categories
Chula Vista
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 94°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $8,754 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.8% vs 6.2%)
Fontana, CA
Pros
28% less violent crime than Chula Vista
Homes cost $141k less ($506,600 vs $647,100)
Rent averages $419/mo less ($1,616 vs $2,035)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (6.2%)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Chula Vista
Cons
Median income trails Chula Vista by $8,754/yr
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Chula Vista
Median Income
$8,754
$101,984 vs $93,230/yr
Fontana
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Violent Crime
28% lower
270.2 vs 375.8 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$141k less
$506,600 vs $647,100
Fontana
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.8% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 74.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, CA | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $647,100⚠ High | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 ✓ Higher | $93,230 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 58 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 209,279 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fontana leads 13 of 22 categories. Chula Vista 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 Chula Vista to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $506,600 median home), income ($101,984 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and Fontana, CA are about 106 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.