Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 12 of 22 categories
Fontana
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
Los Angeles
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $316k less ($506,600 vs $822,600)
63% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Households earn $16,986 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.2%)
Rent averages $175/mo less ($1,616 vs $1,791)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fontana by $16,986/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Median Income
$16,986
$93,230 vs $76,244/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
63% lower
270.2 vs 728.5 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$316k less
$506,600 vs $822,600
Fontana
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $76,244 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 71 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 78.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fontana leads 12 of 22 categories. Fontana wins 12 and Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $822,600 median home), income ($93,230 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Los Angeles, CA are about 55 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.