Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 13 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Fontana
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
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.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $405k less ($101,500 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $807/mo less ($809 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $50,095/yr
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,095 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Erie
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 35°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.2%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Erie
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$405k less
$101,500 vs $506,600
Fontana
Median Income
$50,095
$93,230 vs $43,135/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
28% lower
270.2 vs 375.6 per 100k
Fontana
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.8% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $506,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,616⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 209,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Erie is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 13 of 23 categories. Erie wins 10 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 Erie to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $506,600 median home), income ($43,135 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Fontana, CA are about 2,088 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.