Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Fontana leads 15 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
New York
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
60% less violent crime than New York
Homes cost $226k less ($506,600 vs $732,100)
Households earn $16,623 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.2%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
New York, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fontana by $16,623/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Median Income
$16,623
$93,230 vs $76,607/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
60% lower
270.2 vs 671.0 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$226k less
$506,600 vs $732,100
Fontana
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.6% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $76,607 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 83.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 15 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 15 and New York wins 8. 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 York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $732,100 median home), income ($93,230 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and New York, NY are about 2,407 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.