What are the schools like in Ontario, OR?

Ontario is served primarily by Ontario SD 8C. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.6:1.

What is the median household income in Ontario?

The median household income in Ontario, OR is $39,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.0%.

What is the weather like in Ontario, OR?

Ontario has an average high temperature of 35.8°F in January and 93.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 10.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 15.4 inches.

Ontario, OR Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ontario, OR affordable or expensive?

Ontario's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ontario is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $174,900 and the median rent is $739 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ontario, OR?

Ontario has a violent crime rate of 842.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 6006.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ontario, OR a Good Place to Live?

Ontario is a small city of 11,610 in Oregon, with a median household income of $39,750 and a 7.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Ontario stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Ontario is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ontario city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.3

Ontario's overall cost of living index is 95.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ontario costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ontario, OR	National Avg
Median Home Value	$174,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$739	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	52.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$39,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Ontario's violent crime rate is 842.1 per 100,000 residents — 122% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

842.1 /100k

Property Crime

6006.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Ontario is served primarily by Ontario SD 8C. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ontario, OR	National Avg
School District	Ontario SD 8C	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	79.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ontario sees average highs of 35.8°F in January and 93.4°F in July, with 10.0 inches of annual precipitation and 15.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ontario, OR
Average High — January	35.8°F
Average High — July	93.4°F
Annual Precipitation	10.0"
Annual Snowfall	15.4"

Demographics

Metric	Ontario, OR	National Avg
Population	11,610	—
Median Age	34.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	73.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	19.2%	18.9%
Asian	1.6%	6.3%
Under 18	26.3%	22.2%
65 and over	19.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Fruitland, ID 3 mi Payette, ID 4 mi New Plymouth, ID 9 mi Nyssa, OR 10 mi Vale, OR 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Ontario

Ontario, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

97914

Ontario vs Other Cities

Ontario, OR vs Fruitland, ID Ontario, OR vs Payette, ID Ontario, OR vs New Plymouth, ID Ontario, OR vs Nyssa, OR Ontario, OR vs Vale, OR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ontario, OR affordable or expensive?

Ontario's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ontario roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $174,900 and median rent is $739/month.

What is the crime rate in Ontario, OR?

Ontario's violent crime rate is 842.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 6006.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ontario?

Public schools in Ontario are operated by Ontario SD 8C. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1. 16.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ontario, OR a good place to live?

Ontario, OR has a population of 11,610, a median household income of $39,750, and an unemployment rate of 7.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Ontario?

Ontario averages 35.8°F in January and 93.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 10.0 inches with about 15.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ontario?

Ontario, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 97914.

What is the population of Ontario?

The population of Ontario, Oregon is 11,610 with a median age of 34.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ontario?

Key numbers for living in Ontario: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $174,900, median household income $39,750, crime index 247 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ontario side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.