Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Glendale, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 13 of 22 categories
Fontana
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Glendale
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $485k less ($506,600 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $386/mo less ($1,616 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $12,011 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Smaller class sizes — 21.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Glendale, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Fontana by $12,011/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
$12,011
$93,230 vs $81,219/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
6% lower
270.2 vs 287.2 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$485k less
$506,600 vs $992,000
Fontana
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Glendale, 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 | $992,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $81,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 43.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Glendale Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 194,512 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 41.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 34.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Glendale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fontana leads 13 of 22 categories. Fontana wins 13 and Glendale wins 9. 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 Glendale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $992,000 median home), income ($93,230 vs $81,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Glendale, CA are about 45 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.