Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Fontana leads 14 of 23 categories
Fontana
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,779 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (6.2%)
16% less violent crime than Waterbury
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 37°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
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Waterbury
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $344k less ($162,800 vs $506,600)
Rent averages $476/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,616)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $41,779/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.2%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$41,779
$93,230 vs $51,451/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
16% lower
270.2 vs 322.5 per 100k
Fontana
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 9.8% unemployment
Fontana
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$344k less
$162,800 vs $506,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 81.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fontana leads 14 of 23 categories. Fontana wins 14 and Waterbury wins 9. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $162,800 median home), income ($93,230 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Waterbury, CT are about 2,450 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.