Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa 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 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
102,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $25,884 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Nampa
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Nampa
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.0%)
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($289,400 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $415/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,616)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.0%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $25,884/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$25,884
$93,230 vs $67,346/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
23% lower
270.2 vs 353.1 per 100k
Nampa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Home Value
$217k less
$289,400 vs $506,600
Nampa
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $289,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,201 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $67,346 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 21.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 25.1% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 13 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 10 and Nampa 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 Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $289,400 median home), income ($93,230 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Nampa, ID are about 656 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.