Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Fontana leads 12 of 22 categories
Fontana
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Knoxville
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,921 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Knoxville
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Knoxville
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.8%)
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $322k less ($184,200 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $573/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.8%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $44,921/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$44,921
$93,230 vs $48,309/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
64% lower
270.2 vs 740.3 per 100k
Fontana
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 88.3°F
Knoxville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$322k less
$184,200 vs $506,600
Knoxville
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 191,857 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fontana leads 12 of 22 categories. Fontana wins 12 and Knoxville wins 10. 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 Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $184,200 median home), income ($93,230 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Knoxville, TN are about 1,891 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.