Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Fontana to New York
The 2024 ACS 5-year data shows Fontana has a higher median household income ($102,821 vs $80,483) and lower median home value ($586,800 vs $777,600) than New York City, while gross rents are nearly identical ($1,839 vs $1,821). Fontana’s shorter commute (35 vs 44 minutes) and absence of a modeled state income tax in its profile contrast with NYC’s 5.50% tax reference, creating a trade-off where Fontana offers greater income and home value affordability with less tax burden, but NYC provides access to a vastly larger labor market and urban amenities despite higher housing costs relative to income.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to New York → FontanaMoving from Fontana to New York
Median Rent Impact
-$18/mo
Moving to New York saves ~$216/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+5.5%
~$5,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in New York.
Daily Commute Difference
+9 min / day
Difference of ~75 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 → NYC
50/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$6,440after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainThe deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort
Watch closelyThe cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate New York City resident income tax
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, New York is about $216 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
New York household income$80,483
Fontana gross rent$1,839
New York gross rent$1,821
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Fontana | New York |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 214,169 | 8,483,844 |
| Median household income | $102,821 | $80,483 |
| Median gross rent | $1,839 | $1,821 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $586,800 | $777,600 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 5.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 35 minutes in Fontana and 44 minutes in New York. 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
- Higher median income in Fontana
- Lower home values in Fontana
- Shorter commute time in Fontana
- No state income tax modeled for Fontana
What each city wins
Fontana
Rent consumes ~21.5% of median income.. Watch lower rent burden vs. high home values..
New York
The deepest employment market and largest-city scale in the reviewed cohort. Watch the cohort's longest commute estimate plus a separate new york city resident income tax.
Frequently asked questions
Which city has better housing affordability relative to income?
Fontana shows better housing affordability with a median home value of $586,800 and income of $102,821, yielding a home value-to-income ratio of 5.7, compared to New York City’s ratio of 9.7 based on $777,600 home value and $80,483 income.
How do commute times and tax assumptions affect the cost comparison?
Fontana’s 35-minute commute is 9 minutes shorter than New York City’s 44-minute average, and while NYC applies a 5.50% state income tax reference in the model, Fontana excludes state tax per current data limitations, reducing its modeled tax burden.
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.