Fontana, CA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Fontana, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Fontana →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Roughly 209,279 people call Fontana, California home. Household income runs $93,230 at the median, above what we see across the broader set of cities (+29%).
Housing costs are a defining factor for anyone relocating to Fontana. The median home value sits at $506,600 (above the multi-city median at +55%), while renters pay a median of $1,616 per month. Buyers should weigh current mortgage rates and local property taxes against these figures before committing.
Home values run about 5.4× median income in Fontana, putting it squarely in the balanced range among the cities we cover. Prices in the area have gained 1.23% year over year, a moderate pace that suggests a stable market around Fontana. Fontana carries a Very High hazard rating from FEMA — elevated risk that's typically reflected in higher insurance premiums.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,616/mo in Fontana would take 20.8% of your income.
$715/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($506,600) would take 34.8% of your income toward principal & interest.
$529/mo over the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Fontana
Median home value is $506,600 and median gross rent is $1,616/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for San Bernardino rose 1.23% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $2,201/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Fontana's overall natural-hazard risk as Very High. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Fontana reported a violent crime rate of 244.1 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Fontana
Planning a move to Fontana? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Fontana, CA?
- In Fontana, the median home value is $506,600 and median rent is $1,616 per month, against a median household income of $93,230. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Fontana?
- Using the standard 30%-of-income rule of thumb, affording Fontana's median rent of $1,616/month takes an income of roughly $64,640 a year. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Fontana.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Fontana?
- In Fontana, comfortably renting the median unit ($1,616/month) takes about $64,640 in annual income, while buying the median home ($506,600) takes roughly $115,908 a year in principal and interest alone (assumes 20% down, a 30-year fixed loan, and current mortgage rates).
- Is Fontana safe?
- Fontana's violent crime rate, per FBI reporting for 2025, stands at 244.1 per 100,000 residents.
See the full salary breakdown for Fontana →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Fontana's.