Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Fontana leads 13 of 22 categories
Fontana
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Independence
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,815 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Independence
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Independence
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $356k less ($150,800 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $596/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $35,815/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$35,815
$93,230 vs $57,415/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
53% lower
270.2 vs 571.2 per 100k
Fontana
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 86.9°F
Independence
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$356k less
$150,800 vs $506,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 122,218 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 39.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 60.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fontana leads 13 of 22 categories. Fontana wins 13 and Independence 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 Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $150,800 median home), income ($93,230 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Independence, MO are about 1,323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.