Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Minneapolis 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 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
Minneapolis
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
77% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 22°F
Households earn $16,898 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $178k less ($328,700 vs $506,600)
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $349/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fontana by $16,898/yr
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$16,898
$93,230 vs $76,332/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
77% lower
270.2 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Fontana
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$178k less
$328,700 vs $506,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $76,332 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 32.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 10.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Minneapolis leads 13 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 10 and Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $328,700 median home), income ($93,230 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,483 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.