Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Fontana leads 12 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,174 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Tyler
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Tyler
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.3%)
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $301k less ($205,200 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $503/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,616)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $30,174/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$30,174
$93,230 vs $63,056/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
31% lower
270.2 vs 391.2 per 100k
Tyler
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Home Value
$301k less
$205,200 vs $506,600
Tyler
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 93.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 12 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 12 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $205,200 median home), income ($93,230 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Tyler, TX are about 1,284 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.