Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Fontana leads 13 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
80% less violent crime than Peoria
Households earn $35,162 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Peoria
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $360k less ($146,700 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $699/mo less ($917 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $35,162/yr
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$35,162
$93,230 vs $58,068/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
80% lower
270.2 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Fontana
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$360k less
$146,700 vs $506,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 13 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 13 and Peoria wins 10. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $146,700 median home), income ($93,230 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Peoria, IL are about 1,588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.