Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 El Paso leads 13 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Fontana
California
10
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $347k less ($159,300 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $640/mo less ($976 vs $1,616)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 27.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $37,520/yr
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,520 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than El Paso
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Median Home Value
$347k less
$159,300 vs $506,600
Fontana
Median Income
$37,520
$93,230 vs $55,710/yr
Fontana
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $506,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,616⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 209,279 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 13 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 13 and Fontana wins 10. 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 Paso to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $506,600 median home), income ($55,710 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Fontana, CA are about 658 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.