Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Denver leads 12 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fontana by $7,377/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Fontana, CA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Denver
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Households earn $7,377 more per year on average
Homes cost $34k less ($506,600 vs $540,400)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Denver
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Fontana
Median Income
$7,377
$93,230 vs $85,853/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
73% lower
270.2 vs 993.0 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$34k less
$506,600 vs $540,400
Fontana
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 209,279 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Denver is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 12 of 23 categories. Denver wins 12 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 Denver to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $506,600 median home), income ($85,853 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Fontana, CA are about 796 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.