Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Fontana leads 13 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,925 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than New Haven
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than New Haven
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $270k less ($236,500 vs $506,600)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $214/mo less ($1,402 vs $1,616)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $38,925/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$38,925
$93,230 vs $54,305/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
49% lower
270.2 vs 534.8 per 100k
Fontana
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.8% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Median Home Value
$270k less
$236,500 vs $506,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 141⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 85.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 32.6 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 10.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 13 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 13 and New Haven wins 10. 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $236,500 median home), income ($93,230 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and New Haven, CT are about 2,457 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.