City Comparison
Fontana vs Sacramento
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Fontana scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Fontana
Sacramento
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Sacramento is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
15% lower than in Fontana.
Housing costs are a major driver: Fontana's average rent is
23% higher than Sacramento's.
| Metric | Fontana | Sacramento | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,400 | $1,946 | +23% |
| Groceries | $400 | $400 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $90 | +33% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $230 | +9% |
| Monthly Total | $3,350 | $2,846 | +18% |
| Cost Index | 106 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Sacramento offers 6% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Sacramento delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Fontana is estimated at
$65,000 vs $65,000 in Sacramento.
| Metric | Fontana | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $72,000 | $77,000 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $65,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 67,925 idx | 68,750 idx |
| Household Income | $102,821 | $91,387 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Fontana runs warmer on average — a 67.2°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Fontana comes out ahead with 322 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Fontana sees 0.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Fontana | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 67.20°F | °F |
| Summer High | 93.00°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 48.10°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 25.40 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.10 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 322 | |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 55.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Sacramento has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Fontana.
Sacramento scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Sacramento leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Fontana | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 33 min | 27 min |
| Transit Score | 38.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Walkability | 37.0/100 | 47.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 58.00 | 47.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Sacramento is the larger city
— approximately 0.4x the population of Fontana.
From a growth perspective, Fontana is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Sacramento has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Fontana | Sacramento |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 221,223 | 536,449 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.15% | 0.53% |
| Median Age | 33.8 | 36.0 |
| Unemployment | 5.10% | 5.00% |
| GDP | — | $135.5B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Fontana
Advantages
Median household income stands robustly at $102,821 per the U.S. Census Bureau ACS data.
More affordable housing options compared to coastal Los Angeles and Orange County markets.
Strategic Inland Empire location offering strong employment in logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare.
Abundant family-oriented amenities including parks, regional recreation areas, and modern libraries.
Strong population growth and ongoing downtown revitalization initiatives enhancing local retail and dining.
Drawbacks
Cost of living runs above the national average, driven primarily by housing and transportation costs.
High car dependency with significant regional commute times and heavy freeway traffic.
Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F, requiring high seasonal utility usage for cooling.
Rental market competition remains fierce, with average monthly rents significantly outpacing national norms.
Air quality in the Inland Empire basin can experience periodic challenges due to regional geography and logistics traffic.
Sacramento
Advantages
Median home prices and rental rates remain significantly more affordable than coastal California hubs like San Francisco and San Jose.
Thriving farm-to-fork culinary scene with nationally acclaimed local restaurants and frequent community farmers' markets.
Extensive outdoor recreation access via the 32-mile American River Parkway and close proximity to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada.
Stable, recession-resilient job market anchored by California state government administration and major healthcare systems.
Abundant sunshine and a Mediterranean climate averaging over 260 sunny days per year.
Drawbacks
Summer temperatures frequently exceed 95°F to 100°F, creating high cooling demands and seasonal heat advisories.
Property crime rates and urban homelessness present ongoing challenges in select downtown and inner-city commercial corridors.
Public transit infrastructure is limited outside of central urban grids, making outer neighborhoods heavily car-dependent.
State income tax rates align with California's top-tier state brackets, impacting high-earning households.
Vulnerability to seasonal wildfire smoke from surrounding foothills during dry summer and autumn months.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Fontana
#297California, USA
61.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,400
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
106
Commute
33 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
37.0/100
Sunny Days
322/yr
Avg Temp
67.20°F
Pop. Growth
1.15%
Unemployment
5.10%
Livability
74
Business
70
Sacramento
#542California, USA
49.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,946
Avg Salary
$77,000
Cost Index
112
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
47.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.53%
Unemployment
5.00%
Livability
76
Business
72
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