Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Stamford
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Rent averages $513/mo less ($1,616 vs $2,129)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Homes cost $78k less ($506,600 vs $584,700)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Median income trails Stamford by $7,488/yr
Stamford, CT
Pros
42% less violent crime than Fontana
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,488 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Home Value
$78k less
$506,600 vs $584,700
Fontana
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.8°F
Stamford
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Stamford
Median Income
$7,488
$100,718 vs $93,230/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
42% lower
157.5 vs 270.2 per 100k
Stamford
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 58 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 135,413 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Stamford is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 13 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 10 and Stamford wins 13. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $584,700 median home), income ($93,230 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Stamford, CT are about 2,426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.