Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Fontana
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
Sacramento
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Sacramento
Households earn $14,276 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $56k less ($450,500 vs $506,600)
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fontana by $14,276/yr
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Median Income
$14,276
$93,230 vs $78,954/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
64% lower
270.2 vs 754.9 per 100k
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$56k less
$450,500 vs $506,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Sacramento, 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 | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fontana wins 11 and Sacramento wins 11. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $450,500 median home), income ($93,230 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Sacramento, CA are about 380 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.