Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Provo leads 14 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,287 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 41°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Provo
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.4%)
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $527/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,616)
24% less violent crime than Fontana
Homes cost $115k less ($391,500 vs $506,600)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $35,287/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$35,287
$93,230 vs $57,943/yr
Provo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
24% lower
206.6 vs 270.2 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$115k less
$391,500 vs $506,600
Provo
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 20.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 41.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 32.6 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Provo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Provo leads 14 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 9 and Provo wins 14. 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $391,500 median home), income ($93,230 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Provo, UT are about 531 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.