Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Des Moines leads 12 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ 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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $336k less ($170,700 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $621/mo less ($995 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $30,852/yr
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fontana, CA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Des Moines
Households earn $30,852 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Des Moines
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$336k less
$170,700 vs $506,600
Fontana
Median Income
$30,852
$93,230 vs $62,378/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
62% lower
270.2 vs 703.0 per 100k
Fontana
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $506,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,616⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ 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 | 171⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 209,279 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 12 of 23 categories. Des Moines 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 Des Moines to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $506,600 median home), income ($62,378 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Fontana, CA are about 1,394 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.