Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 12 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Vancouver
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Vancouver
Households earn $19,604 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,616/mo
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Homes cost $103k less ($403,400 vs $506,600)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Rent averages $91/mo less ($1,525 vs $1,616)
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fontana by $19,604/yr
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$19,604
$93,230 vs $73,626/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
54% lower
270.2 vs 582.3 per 100k
Fontana
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$103k less
$403,400 vs $506,600
Vancouver
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 190,700 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 12 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 11 and Vancouver wins 12. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $403,400 median home), income ($93,230 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Vancouver, WA are about 841 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.