Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Garden Grove, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 14 of 22 categories
Fontana
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Garden Grove
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,139
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
171,637
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($506,600 vs $702,600)
Rent averages $271/mo less ($1,616 vs $1,887)
Households earn $7,091 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Garden Grove
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Garden Grove, CA
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 23.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $702,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,887/mo
Median income trails Fontana by $7,091/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Median Income
$7,091
$93,230 vs $86,139/yr
Fontana
Median Home Value
$196k less
$506,600 vs $702,600
Fontana
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Garden Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $702,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,887⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $86,139 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 23.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% ✓ Higher | 75.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Garden Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 171,637 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 54.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Garden Grove's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fontana leads 14 of 22 categories. Fontana wins 14 and Garden Grove wins 8. 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 Garden Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $702,600 median home), income ($93,230 vs $86,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Garden Grove, CA are about 37 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.