Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Fontana leads 12 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
Seattle
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Homes cost $373k less ($506,600 vs $879,900)
65% less violent crime than Seattle
Rent averages $329/mo less ($1,616 vs $1,945)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $22,838/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.2%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Seattle, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $22,838 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Violent Crime
65% lower
270.2 vs 775.1 per 100k
Fontana
Median Home Value
$373k less
$506,600 vs $879,900
Fontana
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$22,838
$116,068 vs $93,230/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 12 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 12 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $879,900 median home), income ($93,230 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Seattle, WA are about 967 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.