Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Fontana to Los Angeles
The 2024 ACS 5-year data shows Fontana has a higher median household income ($102,821) than Los Angeles ($81,939), but Los Angeles has higher median gross rent ($1,933 vs $1,839) and home value ($921,200 vs $586,800). Fontana’s longer commute (35 min vs 33 min) offsets some income advantage, while Los Angeles applies a 9.30% state income tax in the model, reducing net affordability despite similar non-housing baselines.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → FontanaMoving from Fontana to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$94/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$1,128 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
-2 min / day
Difference of ~17 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTFON → LAX
49/ 100
The offer needs work
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$840after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Fontana is about $1,128 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Fontana household income$102,821
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Fontana gross rent$1,839
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Fontana | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 214,169 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $102,821 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,839 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $586,800 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 35 minutes in Fontana and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median household income
- Median gross rent
- Median home value
- One-way commute time
- State income tax rate
- Non-housing cost baseline
What each city wins
Fontana
Rent consumes ~21.5% of median income.. Watch lower rent burden vs. high home values..
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
Which city offers better housing affordability relative to income?
Fontana has a higher income-to-rent ratio: income covers 55.9 months of rent vs Los Angeles’ 42.4, indicating stronger relative affordability despite higher absolute rents in LA.
How does commute time affect the overall cost comparison between the two cities?
Fontana’s 2-minute longer commute adds minor time cost, but its significantly higher income and lower housing costs outweigh this, making net effective earnings more favorable than in Los Angeles.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.