Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 12 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Midland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Midland
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Households earn $2,782 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Midland
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.2%)
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($280,700 vs $506,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Rent averages $216/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,616)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $2,782/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$2,782
$93,230 vs $90,448/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
26% lower
270.2 vs 364.9 per 100k
Midland
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Home Value
$226k less
$280,700 vs $506,600
Midland
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $90,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 84.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 60.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 132,490 |
| Median Age | 32.6 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 63.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 10.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 12 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 11 and Midland wins 12. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $280,700 median home), income ($93,230 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Midland, TX are about 899 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.