Fontana vs Fayetteville: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Fontana, CA and Fayetteville, NC, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricFontana, CAFayetteville, NC
Population209,279208,697
Median household income$93,230$53,424
Median home value$506,600$158,500
Median rent (/mo)$1,616$1,117

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Fontana, CA and Fayetteville, NC comes down to what you value most. Fayetteville has the lower median home value, and Fayetteville has the lower median rent.

Fontana has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Fontana or Fayetteville?
By median home value, Fayetteville is the cheaper of the two ($158,500 vs $506,600). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Fontana or Fayetteville?
Median household income is $93,230 in Fontana versus $53,424 in Fayetteville, per the US Census Bureau.

More comparisons