Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Fontana leads 12 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Salt Lake City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
69% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Households earn $20,873 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Salt Lake City
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.6%)
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Rent averages $362/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,616)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Homes cost $48k less ($458,600 vs $506,600)
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fontana by $20,873/yr
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$20,873
$93,230 vs $72,357/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
69% lower
270.2 vs 864.2 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Home Value
$48k less
$458,600 vs $506,600
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $458,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 18.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 32.6 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 12 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 12 and Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $458,600 median home), income ($93,230 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Salt Lake City, UT are about 551 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.