Los Angeles neighborhood guide
Fontana
Vertical tick marks the LA neighborhood median.
How Fontana scores for you
Checking your quiz profile…
Score Fontana your way
Drag a slider to say how much each thing matters to you. The score updates live.
Want the real thing? Take the full quiz to factor in your budget and commute and rank Fontana against every neighborhood.
Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County, about 46 miles east of Los Angeles. Founded in 1913 and transformed by Henry J. Kaiser's steel mill during World War II, it has evolved into a regional hub for the trucking and logistics industries. The city sits at the crossroads of Interstate 10, State Route 210, and Interstate 15, making it a key transportation corridor for the Inland Empire.
Today, Fontana is a working-class community with straightforward appeal: affordable housing, direct freeway access, and proximity to job centers across the region. It's not a destination for walkability or dense urban amenities, but rather a practical place to live if you work in the area or need reliable transportation connections eastward.
Living here
Day-to-day life in Fontana centers on car-based errands and commuting. You'll find groceries, restaurants, and basic services scattered throughout the city, with chains like Ralphs, Vons, and Cardenas providing familiar shopping options. Parks like Martin Tudor Jurupa Hills Park and Coyote Canyon Park offer outdoor space, though the city ranks 129th out of 371 comparable Southern California locations for overall walkable amenities. There is no rail transit in or near Fontana, so owning a car is not optional.
The city's character is defined by its industrial past and present logistics economy. Traffic flows heavy on the major freeways, and air quality reflects the region's geography and truck traffic. Housing tends to be older, single-family stock or smaller multifamily buildings, and rents are generally lower than in coastal Southern California. This is a place where affordability and freeway access matter more than walkable neighborhoods or trendy retail.
Who it's for
Fontana works best for renters who work in the Inland Empire, need affordable housing with freeway proximity, or are willing to drive for most daily needs. It suits families, shift workers, and commuters who value a lower cost of living over walkability. If you rely on public transit or prefer urban density, this is not the right fit.
Schools in Fontana
1 public school sit inside this area · 1 with published results. Figures are the share of students who met or exceeded state standards.
| School | Grades | English | Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Options for Youth-ActonCharter High School | 8-12 | 32% | 6% |
Source: California Dept. of Education (directory) and CAASPP Smarter Balanced, 2025. We publish these figures as the state reports them and show the same table for every neighborhood. Saktoo does not rate schools, and school data is never part of a neighborhood match score. Attendance boundaries change — confirm the assigned school with the district before relying on it.
Around Fontana
Aldi · Amazon Fresh · Cardenas · El Super
Klatch Coffee · Starbucks · The Bookmark Cafe Bar · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Alberto's Mexican Food · Albertos · Alex Tacos · Applebee's
Almeria Park · Bill Martin Park · Carmela Park · Catawba Park
24 Hour Fitness · Chuze Fitness · LA Fitness · New U Fitness
Check your commute from Fontana
Enter your work (or any) address for real travel times from this neighborhood.
Similar neighborhoods
Next to Fontana
Finding a place in Fontana
Found a place you like? Score it against your priorities to see how well any address fits your budget and commute.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fontana walkable?+
No. Fontana is car-dependent. Most errands require driving, and there is no metro rail service. The city ranks 129th of 371 for walkable amenities, well below the regional average.
What are the main employment hubs near Fontana?+
Fontana is itself a logistics and trucking hub, with major facilities along I-10 and I-15. Many residents also commute to Ontario, San Bernardino, and the broader Inland Empire for warehouse, distribution, and industrial jobs.
Is there public transportation?+
Fontana has no rail stations. Local bus service exists but is limited compared to coastal areas. A car is essential for most residents.
What is the housing stock like?+
Fontana offers mostly older single-family homes and small multifamily buildings at lower rents than coastal Southern California. Housing is functional and practical rather than new or upscale.
Which LA neighborhoods are similar to Fontana?+
Based on walkability, rent levels, amenities, and environment, the most similar neighborhoods to Fontana are Grand Terrace, Riverside, Simi Valley and Chino Hills.