Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 Sterling Heights leads 16 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Sterling Heights
Michigan
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,381
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
133,744
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,849 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Sterling Heights
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($243,400 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $401/mo less ($1,215 vs $1,616)
15% less violent crime than Fontana
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $17,849/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$17,849
$93,230 vs $75,381/yr
Fontana
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
15% lower
229.2 vs 270.2 per 100k
Sterling Heights
Median Home Value
$263k less
$243,400 vs $506,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $243,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,215 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $75,381 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 17.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 34.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Sterling Heights's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Sterling Heights is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sterling Heights leads 16 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 7 and Sterling Heights wins 16. 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 Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $243,400 median home), income ($93,230 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Sterling Heights, MI are about 1,940 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.