Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 20 of 22 categories
Fontana
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279
Gilbert
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Rent averages $223/mo less ($1,616 vs $1,839)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $21,949/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
51% less violent crime than Fontana
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $21,949 more per year on average
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$21,949
$115,179 vs $93,230/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
51% lower
132.2 vs 270.2 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$52k less
$454,300 vs $506,600
Gilbert
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 93.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,839⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 20.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 267,267 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 10.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 20 of 22 categories. Fontana wins 2 and Gilbert wins 20. 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 Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $454,300 median home), income ($93,230 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Gilbert, AZ are about 333 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.