Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Fontana
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
Oakland
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $377k less ($506,600 vs $883,800)
86% less violent crime than Oakland
Rent averages $233/mo less ($1,616 vs $1,849)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Oakland, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Violent Crime
86% lower
270.2 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$377k less
$506,600 vs $883,800
Fontana
Summer Heat
22.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$1,159
$94,389 vs $93,230/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 31.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 22.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fontana wins 11 and Oakland wins 11. 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $883,800 median home), income ($93,230 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Oakland, CA are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.