Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Fontana, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 12 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Fontana
California
12
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.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Homes cost $215k less ($291,300 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $672/mo less ($944 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $36,349/yr
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,349 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Fayetteville
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$215k less
$291,300 vs $506,600
Fayetteville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Fontana
Median Income
$36,349
$93,230 vs $56,881/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
36% lower
270.2 vs 423.7 per 100k
Fontana
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Fontana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $506,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $1,616⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $93,230 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 78.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Fontana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 209,279 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 66.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Fontana's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 12 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 11 and Fontana wins 12. 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 Fayetteville to Fontana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $506,600 median home), income ($56,881 vs $93,230), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Fontana, CA are about 1,321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.