Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 West Jordan leads 12 of 20 categories
Fontana
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
West Jordan
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
116,383
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.2%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than West Jordan
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($412,100 vs $506,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fontana
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $127/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,616)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Violent Crime
8% lower
270.2 vs 294.2 per 100k
West Jordan
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 98.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
West Jordan
Median Income
$5,772
$99,002 vs $93,230/yr
West Jordan
Median Home Value
$95k less
$412,100 vs $506,600
West Jordan
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 98.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $412,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 93.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 116,383 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
West Jordan is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, West Jordan leads 12 of 20 categories. Fontana wins 8 and West Jordan 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 West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $412,100 median home), income ($93,230 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and West Jordan, UT are about 539 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.