Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Rent averages $737/mo less ($1,616 vs $2,353)
Homes cost $131k less ($506,600 vs $637,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $54,997/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Highlands Ranch
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $54,997 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Fontana
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Home Value
$131k less
$506,600 vs $637,400
Fontana
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 87.3°F
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$54,997
$148,227 vs $93,230/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
49% lower
138.1 vs 270.2 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 18.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 9 and Highlands Ranch wins 14. 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $637,400 median home), income ($93,230 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 785 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.