Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Fontana leads 16 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,786 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 20.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Trenton
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $395k less ($111,200 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $439/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $48,786/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$48,786
$93,230 vs $44,444/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
74% lower
270.2 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Fontana
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 10.2% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$395k less
$111,200 vs $506,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 25.9% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 16 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 16 and Trenton wins 7. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $111,200 median home), income ($93,230 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Trenton, NJ are about 2,365 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.