Cleveland vs Fontana: Cost of Living Comparison
How does the cost of living in Cleveland, Ohio compare to Fontana, California? Below is a side-by-side breakdown of housing costs, income, wages, and taxes using official government data.
Summary: Cleveland is the more affordable city overall. Housing costs are 83% lower in Cleveland compared to Fontana, while rent is 47% lower. State income tax is 3.5% in OH vs 13.3% in CA.
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Fontana, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Median Home Value | $87,400 | $506,600 | -82.7% |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 | $1,616 | -47.3% |
| Income | |||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $93,230 | -60.0% |
| Per Capita Income | $26,040 | $30,351 | -14.2% |
| Taxes | |||
| State Income Tax Rate | 3.5% | 13.3% | -73.7% |
| Combined Sales Tax | 7.2% | 8.7% | -16.6% |
| Demographics | |||
| Population | 370,365 | 209,279 | +77.0% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2022), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey. State/local tax rates from Tax Foundation (2024).
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Cleveland
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Rent vs. Buy Calculator — Fontana
Default home price from Census ACS median. Mortgage rate: 6.38% (Freddie Mac PMMS, March 2026). Property tax est. 1.1%, insurance est. 0.35% of home value annually.
Key Takeaways
- Housing: The median home in Cleveland costs $87,400 compared to $506,600 in Fontana — a 83% discount.
- Rent: Median rent is $851/mo in Cleveland vs $1,616/mo in Fontana.
- Income: Median household income is $37,271 in Cleveland and $93,230 in Fontana.
- Taxes: State income tax is 3.5% in Ohio vs 13.3% in California.
Methodology
This comparison uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2022) for median household income, median home value, median gross rent, per capita income, and population. State and local tax rates are sourced from the Tax Foundation. Mortgage rates are from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (updated weekly).