Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Palm Coast leads 12 of 19 categories
Fontana
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,406 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Palm Coast
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($283,300 vs $506,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $24,406/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$24,406
$93,230 vs $68,824/yr
Fontana
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 87.8°F
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$223k less
$283,300 vs $506,600
Palm Coast
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $283,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,621⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $68,824 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 26.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 12 of 19 categories. Fontana wins 7 and Palm Coast wins 12. 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 Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $283,300 median home), income ($93,230 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Palm Coast, FL are about 2,139 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.