Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Reno leads 13 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
Reno
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Reno
Households earn $20,157 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 46°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.0%)
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Reno, NV
Pros
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Rent averages $256/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,616)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $45k less ($462,100 vs $506,600)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Cons
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fontana by $20,157/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$20,157
$93,230 vs $73,073/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
49% lower
270.2 vs 529.6 per 100k
Reno
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Reno
Median Home Value
$45k less
$462,100 vs $506,600
Reno
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $462,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 45.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 92.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 19.8% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Reno is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 13 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 10 and Reno wins 13. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $462,100 median home), income ($93,230 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Reno, NV are about 398 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.