Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 11 of 21 categories
Fontana
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fontana, CA
Pros
53% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Households earn $29,186 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($324,800 vs $506,600)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 68°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fontana by $29,186/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fontana
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fontana
Median Income
$29,186
$93,230 vs $64,044/yr
Fontana
Violent Crime
53% lower
270.2 vs 575.8 per 100k
Fontana
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.0°F
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$182k less
$324,800 vs $506,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Fontana is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 11 of 21 categories. Fontana wins 10 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $324,800 median home), income ($93,230 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,269 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.