Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
San Diego, 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
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
San Diego
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $277k less ($506,600 vs $783,300)
34% less violent crime than San Diego
Rent averages $464/mo less ($1,616 vs $2,080)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than San Diego
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Median income trails San Diego by $5,427/yr
San Diego, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Households earn $5,427 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fontana
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Violent Crime
34% lower
270.2 vs 412.2 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$277k less
$506,600 vs $783,300
Fontana
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 79.8°F
San Diego
Median Income
$5,427
$98,657 vs $93,230/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $783,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,080⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 | $98,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | San Diego Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 67.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Diego's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fontana wins 11 and San Diego 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 San Diego or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $783,300 median home), income ($93,230 vs $98,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and San Diego, CA are about 91 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.