Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 14 of 22 categories
Fontana
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Palm Bay
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
121,513
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,692 more per year on average
22% less violent crime than Palm Bay
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 7% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($226,200 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $271/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 68°F
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $30,692/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$30,692
$93,230 vs $62,538/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
22% lower
270.2 vs 347.2 per 100k
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$280k less
$226,200 vs $506,600
Palm Bay
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 121,513 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 14 of 22 categories. Fontana wins 8 and Palm Bay wins 14. 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 Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $226,200 median home), income ($93,230 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Palm Bay, FL are about 2,208 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.