Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods in Fontana, CA
25 neighborhoods with growth potential — still affordable, increasingly walkable, and showing improving conditions. Ranked by affordability, walkability, employment, safety, and air quality.
Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods in Fontana, CA — Key Takeaways
Fontana has 25 neighborhoods showing growth potential. The most affordable up-and-coming area is Oasis CDP with a median home value of $34,500. The strongest job market is in Chester CDP with an unemployment rate of 2.0%.
Fontana has a population of 209,279, a median household income of $93,230, an unemployment rate of 9.1%, and a poverty rate of 10.5%. The median home value citywide is $506,600, which is 80% above the national average of $281,900.
Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA AirNow, Walk Score, and FEMA. Last updated: March 2026.
Top 3 Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods
| # | Neighborhood | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Springs CDP (El Dorado County) | 76 | ||
| Dustin Acres CDP | 71 | ||
| Chester CDP | 61 | ||
4 | Jones Valley CDP | 60 | |
5 | Grizzly Flats CDP | 58 | |
6 | Cobb CDP | 57 | |
7 | Squaw Valley CDP | 55 | |
8 | Soda Bay CDP | 54 | |
9 | Oasis CDP | 53 | |
10 | Wilkerson CDP | 50 | |
11 | Patton Village CDP | 50 | |
12 | Fort Dick CDP | 50 | |
13 | Upper Lake CDP | 48 | |
14 | Camanche Village CDP | 45 | |
15 | Calpella CDP | 45 | |
16 | Smith River CDP | 44 | |
17 | Millerton CDP | 41 | |
18 | Olde Stockdale CDP | 41 | |
19 | Bear Valley Springs CDP | 40 | |
20 | Borrego Springs CDP | 40 | |
21 | Monument Hills CDP | 36 | |
22 | Forest Ranch CDP | 33 | |
23 | Baywood Park CDP | 31 | |
24 | Del Monte Forest CDP | 30 | |
25 | Lee Vining CDP | 25 |
Rankings by Category
Top 5 up-and-coming neighborhoods in Fontana for each growth-potential metric.
Lowest median home value
- $34,500
- $66,600
- $164,000
- $169,600
- $237,700
Lowest unemployment rate
- 2.0%
- 2.0%
- 2.2%
- 2.8%
- 3.2%
Lowest violent crime rate
- 5.7 per 1K
- 5.7 per 1K
- 5.7 per 1K
- 5.7 per 1K
- 5.7 per 1K
Lowest median rent
- $757
- $1,005
- $1,055
- $1,079
- $1,089
Highest median household income
- $236,131
- $198,750
- $172,344
- $157,167
- $151,390
Lowest poverty rate
- 1.1%
- 1.3%
- 1.3%
- 1.8%
- 2.9%
Up-and-coming neighborhoods are identified using a Growth Potential Score that evaluates five weighted categories. These areas are still affordable relative to the city average but show strong fundamentals that suggest improving conditions and future appreciation.
- Affordability vs City Average
- 30% weight
- Walkability & Transit
- 25% weight
- Job Market (Unemployment)
- 20% weight
- Safety
- 15% weight
- Environment (Air Quality)
- 10% weight
Neighborhoods that are priced below the city median home value score higher on affordability. Walkability reflects the Walk Score, indicating access to amenities on foot. A low unemployment rate signals a strong local economy. Safety is measured by violent crime rates per 1,000 residents. Air quality uses the EPA Air Quality Index (AQI), where lower values indicate cleaner air.
Data Sources: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), EPA AirNow, Walk Score, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer. All data is updated on a rolling basis as new government releases become available.