Photo of Fontana, CA
( 12 Ratings )

Living in Fontana, CA

Fontana Area Facts

Area Score
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Fontana Reviews

Write a review about Fontana Tell people what you like or don't like about Fontana…
City with crime and cheap housing. User Rating 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Mar 21, 2019) Everyone knows that Rialto and Fontana are one in the same. Next door neighbors with a crime spree that goes back to the 1980's. housing is cheap for a reason and the Fontana school district is just horrible. Many transfer to Etiwanda and RC districts. If you want to go shopping ...Read More and find good eatings, you will end up crossing over to Ontario Mall and Victoria gardens in Rancho. they have tried to develop housing like in Etiwanda up north Fontana, but the crime rate and low income students really hurt these schools in the area. Parents need to step up and contribute. housing above highland is okay, but below that you are taking a huge risk. Keep in mind when you speak to a realtor, they should be giving you the numbers about the schools and test scores in Fontana as well as the crime rate and almost very low employment rate. You can get a starter home for below $350,000 in and around fontana anywhere. Stay away from Rialto and mid to south fontana. FOHI, Miller, Kaiser are not what they used to be, so transferring out if accepted is what many students do. Unless parents have money for private school, then that is an option. At night it is risky to walk around alone or in the parks. So be aware. My sister in law lived in Rialto and many friends over the years lived in fontana, but have moved. Equity is slow in some areas, so choose a community near Etiwanda area. Good luck, but research at best first and check dog barking ordinance also. Read Less
Born and Raised Here User Rating 4 rating By deadmoon ( May 04, 2016) Okay, where do I start?Fontana is a very up and coming town that is in the middle of everything. It can be a little boring sometimes, but the good news is that we are within reasonable driving distance from three different major cities. We've got L.A. an hour away, San Diego two ...Read More hours away and Las Vegas about three and a half hours away. So if we want to get out of town for a weekend to party, we've got those three cities to choose from. We've also got the pristine Orange County beaches a little over an hour away for those very dry and arid hot summer days. Fontana is a haven for the shopaholics. We've got five strip malls all within 30 mins and under driving distance, the two more popular Ontario Mills mall in Ontario and the trendy Victoria Gardens mall in Rancho Cucamonga as well as the Carousel Mall in San Bernardino, Montclair Plaza in Montclair and the Tyler Mall in Riverside. We're also close to many colleges, but not necessarily a college town. Upland, San Bernardino and Riverside are worth checking out if you're looking for good colleges as well as the Chaffey College's main campus in Rancho Cucamonga. Ontario is a great place if you're just looking for a private trade school. It's got dozens and dozens of them. Notice how I have yet to talk about anything within Fontana's city limits yet? Yeah, that's because there isn't really much going on in the city of Fontana itself. It's the area all around the city and the amenities close by that are everything. Fontana has some really bad areas so I recommend sticking to the 92337 and 92336 zip codes, the safer and much more desirable areas of Fontana. Living in most of the neighborhoods within the 92335 zip code is just looking for trouble, believe me.As for the cost of living in Fontana...It used to be much more affordable but since the town is developing and growing, the cost of living here is also going up every year. If I'm not mistaken, your typical two story 4 bedroom/3 bathroom house will cost you about an average of $400,000 now. That may be pretty pricey, that might not be. It all depends on your budget, but please take into consideration the cost will keep getting higher and higher at an alarming rate so if you are considering moving here, don't think too much about it. It will be a lot easier to get settled here before it becomes just as expensive as L.A. Even the rents have gone up quite a bit lately and it's pretty ridiculous how much you could end up paying for a studio when we're not even that close to L.A. Read Less
Fontana, CA - Live, Work and Play User Rating 4 rating By Anonymous ( May 31, 2010) Fontana, CA has been my home for the last 12 years. I live, work and play in Fontana because despite being a smaller city, it is definitely packed with things to do, see and enjoy.

In the last couple of years, Fontana has seen tremendous growth which has added to the quality of
...Read More life that the city offers its residents. We have many public parks like the newest addition located in North Fontana which boasts a water park with various pools and water rides, as well as a skate park and basketball courts. The many recreational centers located all over Fontana offer classes and activities ranging from Salsa dancing to cooking classes.

Fontana is also ideally located just a short drive from several amazing shopping experiences like the indoor Ontario Mills Mall or the outdoor shopping attraction that is Victoria Gardens. For a little more excitement I recommend checking out the speedway, during any given race don't be surprised to find a crowd cheering on their favorite driver.

If ever in the Inland Empire or anywhere close, make sure to stop by and visit Fontana, a city I love to live in, and one you will surely want to return to. Read Less
Show All Reviews
Fontana, CA - Live, Work and Play User Rating 4 rating By Anonymous ( May 31, 2010) Fontana, CA has been my home for the last 12 years. I live, work and play in Fontana because despite being a smaller city, it is definitely packed with things to do, see and enjoy.

In the last couple of years, Fontana has seen tremendous growth which has added to the quality of
...Read More life that the city offers its residents. We have many public parks like the newest addition located in North Fontana which boasts a water park with various pools and water rides, as well as a skate park and basketball courts. The many recreational centers located all over Fontana offer classes and activities ranging from Salsa dancing to cooking classes.

Fontana is also ideally located just a short drive from several amazing shopping experiences like the indoor Ontario Mills Mall or the outdoor shopping attraction that is Victoria Gardens. For a little more excitement I recommend checking out the speedway, during any given race don't be surprised to find a crowd cheering on their favorite driver.

If ever in the Inland Empire or anywhere close, make sure to stop by and visit Fontana, a city I love to live in, and one you will surely want to return to. Read Less

How Do You Rate The Livability In Fontana?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Fontana, CA Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs
      Compare Neighborhoods & Addresses Local Insights Report

      Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.

      Local Insights Report

      Fontana, CA

      Fontana is a sophisticated city that is located in San Bernardino County. It has a population estimated to be more than 210.000 people with a nice suburban feeling. When it comes to history, the city was founded in 1913, and by then, it specialized in rural farming. With time, it developed into a booming manufacturing center in the region.

      If you intend to move to Fontana, CA, you need to know that you will get affordable housing. There are many moving companies that you can hire to help you move to the location. The area is family-friendly with amazing school districts for your children.

      Plus, the residents are welcoming and of diverse cultures that you will appreciate. In terms of weather, the area experiences the four seasons, with December being the coldest month. There is no snow, but the zone gets rainfall from time to time. Employment is seamless to find if you have an excellent resume. What’s more, the trucking industry is the dominant sector that you can quickly secure a decent job.

      The city has famous landmarks that make it more outstanding and authentic as well. The major ones are Lewis Library and Technology Center, the Auto Club Speedway, and Pacific Electric Trail. You can also tour the City Hall and Historical Society to discover the trail of history that Fontana has in general. The area also takes pride in more than 36 parks that you can take your family and friends to relax. The Rancho Cucamonga Epicenter and Mission Inn Museum should be on your list too. In addition to that, if you are into music, visit the Redlands Bowl for the best entertainment. Take advantage of the Center State Theater to watch breathtaking shows.

      Public transportation is accessible since you can board the Omnitrans bus service. Plus, the Metrolink is available if you want to use the train. On that account, you can navigate the city with sheer simplicity. If you're going to fly in and out of Fontana, you can utilize the Ontario International Airport. You can also walk or ride a bike if you don’t intend to travel far as you can use some exercise.

      The cost of living in Fontana is lower than the California average. It means that you can get housing, groceries, healthcare, transportation, and utilities at affordable rates. It is the ideal place to live since the crime rates are low as well. As for the unemployment rate, it is below average; thus, you can find a job effortlessly. The best part is that it continues to grow, and you can grab many opportunities in the area. You can also make friends easily as the people are utterly welcoming.

      F Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Fontana? Well, there are not many amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Northgate Park
      Almeria Park
      Central City Park
      Cypress Park
      Bill Martin Playground
      Bill Martin Park
      Seville Park
      Summerwood Way Park

      Entertainment

      Art Depot Gallery
      Fontana Historical Society - Research Library
      Fontan Historical Society
      The Koehler Gallery
      Center Stage Theater
      Fontana Historical Society - Historical Room
      The Steelworkers' Auditorium
      Bowlero Fontana

      Food & Drink

      Baker's Drive Thru
      McDonald's
      Subway
      Little Caesars
      Jack in the Box
      Alberto's Mexican Food
      Domino's
      Burger King

      A+ Commute

      Is public transit available in Fontana? Of all people who commute, 1.6% take public transportation in Fontana.
      Drive to Work
      77%

      1% higher than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      2%

      3% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      1%

      1% lower than the US average

      B+ Health & Safety

      Is Fontana a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are some hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center

      Pharmacies

      Pharmacy - Fontana HSB 24 Hour
      Pharmacy - Link
      Pharmacy - Family Medicine/Urgent Care
      Pharmacy - Surgical Services
      CVS Pharmacy
      Walgreens

      Doctors

      Sierra San Antonio Medical Plaza