Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
San Jose, 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 Jose
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $643k less ($506,600 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $910/mo less ($1,616 vs $2,526)
55% less violent crime than San Jose
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $42,780/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,780 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Violent Crime
55% lower
270.2 vs 606.8 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$643k less
$506,600 vs $1,149,600
Fontana
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$42,780
$136,010 vs $93,230/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 28.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 85.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 18.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fontana wins 11 and San Jose 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 Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($93,230 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and San Jose, CA are about 329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.