Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 15 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Fontana
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $33,301/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 6.2%)
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,301 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than El Monte
Homes cost $91k less ($506,600 vs $597,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.2%)
More college-educated — 20.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Median Income
$33,301
$93,230 vs $59,929/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
36% lower
270.2 vs 423.2 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$91k less
$506,600 vs $597,200
Fontana
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.0% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,616⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 20.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 78.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 67.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 209,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fontana leads 15 of 22 categories. El Monte wins 7 and Fontana wins 15. 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 El Monte to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $506,600 median home), income ($59,929 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Fontana, CA are about 32 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.