Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Fontana to Phoenix
Fontana's 2024 ACS shows higher median income ($102,821) and home value ($586,800) than Phoenix ($81,332 income, $420,700 value), but also higher rent ($1,839 vs $1,582) and longer commute (35 vs 28 minutes). Phoenix applies a 2.50% state income tax in its calculator, while Fontana excludes state tax due to lack of approved reference. Both use the same $1,250 non-housing baseline. The trade-off centers on Fontana's stronger earnings and equity offsetting higher housing costs and commute time, versus Phoenix's lower income and home value balanced by shorter commute and explicit tax modeling.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Phoenix → FontanaMoving from Fontana to Phoenix
Median Rent Impact
-$257/mo
Moving to Phoenix saves ~$3,084/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+2.5%
~$2,500 more state tax on a $100k salary in Arizona.
Daily Commute Difference
-7 min / day
Difference of ~58 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
Adjust the assumptions. Every result updates instantly.
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 → PHX
67/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$12,668after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference
Watch closelyThe $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above Dallas despite similar commute time
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Phoenix is about $3,084 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
Phoenix household income$81,332
Fontana gross rent$1,839
Phoenix gross rent$1,582
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Fontana | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 214,169 | 1,642,323 |
| Median household income | $102,821 | $81,332 |
| Median gross rent | $1,839 | $1,582 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $586,800 | $420,700 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 2.5% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 35 minutes in Fontana and 28 minutes in Phoenix. 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 owner-occupied home value
- One-way commute time
- State income tax treatment in calculator
What each city wins
Fontana
Rent consumes ~21.5% of median income.. Watch lower rent burden vs. high home values..
Phoenix
A balanced income-to-rent profile with a low flat state-tax reference. Watch the $420,700 home-value benchmark is materially above dallas despite similar commute time.
Frequently asked questions
Which city has higher housing costs relative to income?
Fontana has higher median gross rent ($1,839) and home value ($586,800) than Phoenix ($1,582 rent, $420,700 value), but also substantially higher income ($102,821 vs $81,332), making the income-to-housing ratio more favorable in Fontana despite absolute costs being higher.
How does commute time affect the comparison between the two cities?
Fontana residents face a longer average one-way commute of 35 minutes compared to Phoenix's 28 minutes, based on 2024 ACS weighted midpoints, which may offset some of Fontana's income advantage when considering total time and transportation costs.
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.