Is Fontana cheaper than Dallas?

No. Dallas is cheaper: typical rent is $1,931 a month versus $2,201 in Fontana — 12% lower. Median household income is $93,230 in Fontana compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Fontana has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Fontana or Dallas?

Dallas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 122 in Fontana — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Fontana or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in Fontana and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Fontana, CA vs Dallas, TX

Fontana, CA versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $2,201 a month in Fontana and $1,931 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $93,230 versus $63,985. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Fontana takes job market, while Dallas takes affordability, safety, and weather. The widest gap is median income, where Fontana leads by 46% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Fontana can feel further apart than Fontana and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Fontana and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Fontana report Full Dallas report

Fontana, CA

Rent: $2,201/mo
Median income: $93,230
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 93°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $63,985
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Rent

12% cheaper

Dallas rent is 12% cheaper than Fontana

Fontana

$2,201/mo

Dallas

Winner

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,931 a month in Dallas versus $2,201 in Fontana, so Dallas is 12% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,240 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Dallas still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Fontana.

Median income

46% higher

Fontana's median income is 46% higher than Dallas

Fontana

Winner

$93,230

Dallas

$63,985

What this means for your life

Median household income is $93,230 in Fontana versus $63,985 in Dallas, so typical pay runs 46% higher in Fontana — about $29,245 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Fontana is the stronger labor market on paper. Dallas can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

11% lower crime

Dallas's crime index is 11% lower than Fontana

Fontana

122 (100 = avg)

Dallas

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Dallas's crime index is 109 versus 122 in Fontana (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Dallas. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Dallas, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Fontana. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Fontana and Dallas are about even on school scores.

Fontana

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Fontana, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

5% more comfortable

Dallas weather is 5% more comfortable than Fontana

Fontana

93°F typical

Dallas

Winner

92°F typical

What this means for your life

Dallas scores 5% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 93°F in Fontana and 92°F in Dallas. Fontana reads as hot, long summers; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Fontana's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Dallas is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Fontana

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Fontana is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 46% higher here ($93,230). Start with Fontana if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Fontana report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Dallas is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 12% cheaper here at about $1,931 a month. Choose Dallas if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Dallas if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (92°F) beat Fontana on this page's weather index by 5%. Fontana may pay more or cost less, but Dallas is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Dallas is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Fontana (109 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

Fontana vs Dallas, called

If the job market is your priority, Fontana is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Dallas offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Fontana vs Dallas FAQ

Is Fontana cheaper than Dallas?: No. Dallas is cheaper: typical rent is $1,931 a month versus $2,201 in Fontana — 12% lower. Median household income is $93,230 in Fontana compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Fontana has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Fontana or Dallas?: Dallas is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 122 in Fontana — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Fontana or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in Fontana and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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