Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 14 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
Tucson
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,181 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Tucson
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Tucson
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $288k less ($218,200 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $625/mo less ($991 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $41,181/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$41,181
$93,230 vs $52,049/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
54% lower
270.2 vs 588.8 per 100k
Tucson
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$288k less
$218,200 vs $506,600
Tucson
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 93.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 66.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 14 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 9 and Tucson wins 14. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $218,200 median home), income ($93,230 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Tucson, AZ are about 405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.