Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Madison, WI
🏆 Madison leads 13 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279
Madison
Wisconsin
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,335 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Madison
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 2.6%)
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $180k less ($326,600 vs $506,600)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (2.6%)
Rent averages $325/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $18,335/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$18,335
$93,230 vs $74,895/yr
Fontana
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.2°F
Madison
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
5% lower
256.0 vs 270.2 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$180k less
$326,600 vs $506,600
Madison
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Madison, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,291 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $74,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 2.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 15.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A (124) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Madison Metropolitan School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 27.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 39.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 268,516 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 ✓ Older | 31.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 16.2% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Madison's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Madison is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 13 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 10 and Madison wins 13. 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 Madison or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $326,600 median home), income ($93,230 vs $74,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Madison, WI are about 1,626 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.