Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 11 of 18 categories
Fontana
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Pembroke Pines
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,657
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,573 more per year on average
Rent averages $171/mo less ($1,616 vs $1,787)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($379,900 vs $506,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 36.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 68°F
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $15,573/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fontana
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Median Income
$15,573
$93,230 vs $77,657/yr
Pembroke Pines
Median Home Value
$127k less
$379,900 vs $506,600
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $379,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $77,657 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 10.7% ✓ 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- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 36.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 170,472 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 18 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 11 of 18 categories. Fontana wins 7 and Pembroke Pines 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 Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $379,900 median home), income ($93,230 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 2,276 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.