Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara leads 12 of 22 categories
Fontana
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $934k less ($506,600 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1225/mo less ($1,616 vs $2,841)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $72,122/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $72,122 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Fontana
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Property crime (2501.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Median Home Value
$934k less
$506,600 vs $1,440,200
Fontana
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$72,122
$165,352 vs $93,230/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
33% lower
182.0 vs 270.2 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Santa Clara, 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 | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 12 of 22 categories. Fontana wins 10 and Santa Clara wins 12. 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($93,230 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Santa Clara, CA are about 338 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.