Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Portland 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
Portland
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Portland
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Households earn $7,354 more per year on average
Homes cost $17k less ($506,600 vs $523,100)
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Portland, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Rent averages $86/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,616)
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fontana by $7,354/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$7,354
$93,230 vs $85,876/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
62% lower
270.2 vs 720.1 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$17k less
$506,600 vs $523,100
Fontana
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Portland
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 46.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Portland is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portland leads 12 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 11 and Portland 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $523,100 median home), income ($93,230 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Portland, OR are about 836 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.