Fountain Valley, CA vs La Crescenta-Montrose, CA
Fountain Valley, CA and La Crescenta-Montrose, CA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 1.2% difference in their overall index. Fountain Valley scores 200 while La Crescenta-Montrose scores 202 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.
On the housing front, median rent in Fountain Valley is $2,507/month compared to $2,231/month in La Crescenta-Montrose — a 12% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while La Crescenta-Montrose has cheaper rent, Fountain Valley actually has lower median home values ($1,018,600 vs $1,151,100).
Median household income in Fountain Valley is $111,797 compared to $119,775 in La Crescenta-Montrose (-6.7%). While La Crescenta-Montrose is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fountain Valley spend roughly 26.9% of their income on rent, more than the 22.4% in La Crescenta-Montrose.
Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (64.9°F vs 65.2°F). La Crescenta-Montrose receives more rainfall at 13.9" per year compared to 11.2" in Fountain Valley.
Income & Cost
Housing
Salary Equivalency Calculator
What does your salary in one city buy you in the other?
Rent by Bedroom Size
HUD Fair Market Rent (FY 2026) — metro area average
Everyday Prices
BLS Average Prices by metro area
Climate
NOAA 30-year normals (1991-2020)