Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 13 of 22 categories
Fontana
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Roseville
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Rent averages $324/mo less ($1,616 vs $1,940)
Homes cost $90k less ($506,600 vs $596,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 55°F
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $19,035/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.5%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Roseville, CA
Pros
19% less violent crime than Fontana
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $19,035 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Median Home Value
$90k less
$506,600 vs $596,700
Roseville
Median Income
$19,035
$112,265 vs $93,230/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
19% lower
219.2 vs 270.2 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 21.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 93.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 148,879 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Roseville leads 13 of 22 categories. Fontana wins 9 and Roseville 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $596,700 median home), income ($93,230 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Roseville, CA are about 387 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.