Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Frisco, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Frisco
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Rent averages $187/mo less ($1,616 vs $1,803)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Homes cost $25k less ($506,600 vs $531,400)
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $51,337/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.9%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Frisco
Frisco, TX
Pros
63% less violent crime than Fontana
Households earn $51,337 more per year on average
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Home Value
$25k less
$506,600 vs $531,400
Frisco
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Frisco
Median Income
$51,337
$144,567 vs $93,230/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
63% lower
100.9 vs 270.2 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Frisco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $531,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,803⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 | $144,567 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 29.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 96.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | FRISCO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 42.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 202,075 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% | 67.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | 28.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 9.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Frisco's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Frisco is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 17 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 6 and Frisco wins 17. 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 Fontana to Frisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $531,400 median home), income ($93,230 vs $144,567), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Frisco, TX are about 1,187 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.