Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Atlanta leads 12 of 22 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $117k less ($395,600 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $314/mo less ($1,512 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Ontario, CA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Atlanta
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Atlanta
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Home Value
$117k less
$395,600 vs $513,000
Ontario
Violent Crime
68% lower
272.2 vs 840.6 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 12 of 22 categories. Atlanta wins 12 and Ontario wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Atlanta to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $513,000 median home), income ($77,655 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Ontario, CA are about 1,895 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.