Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 17 of 22 categories
Fontana
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279
Scottsdale
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($506,600 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $152/mo less ($1,616 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 99°F
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $10,967/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Scottsdale
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
44% less violent crime than Fontana
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Households earn $10,967 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Home Value
$145k less
$506,600 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$10,967
$104,197 vs $93,230/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
44% lower
152.5 vs 270.2 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 93.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 63.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 17 of 22 categories. Fontana wins 5 and Scottsdale wins 17. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $651,800 median home), income ($93,230 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.