Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Philadelphia leads 12 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,693 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $291k less ($215,500 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $366/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,616)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $35,693/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$35,693
$93,230 vs $57,537/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
70% lower
270.2 vs 908.7 per 100k
Fontana
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.6% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 89.3°F
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$291k less
$215,500 vs $506,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 32.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 86.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 12 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 11 and Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $215,500 median home), income ($93,230 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Philadelphia, PA are about 2,347 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.