Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 15 of 22 categories
Fontana
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
Mesa
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Mesa
Households earn $19,464 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Mesa
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($327,700 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $264/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,616)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fontana by $19,464/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$19,464
$93,230 vs $73,766/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
44% lower
270.2 vs 482.7 per 100k
Mesa
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$179k less
$327,700 vs $506,600
Mesa
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 93.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $73,766 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 67.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 63.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mesa leads 15 of 22 categories. Fontana wins 7 and Mesa wins 15. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $327,700 median home), income ($93,230 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Mesa, AZ are about 334 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.