Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 12 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470
Ontario
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $286k less ($227,200 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $457/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,826)
More college-educated — 24.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $23,630/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.8%)
Ontario, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,630 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Bridgeport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$286k less
$227,200 vs $513,000
Ontario
Median Income
$23,630
$78,070 vs $54,440/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
31% lower
272.2 vs 392.9 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.5% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 6.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Bridgeport is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 11 and Ontario wins 12. 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 Bridgeport to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $513,000 median home), income ($54,440 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Ontario, CA are about 2,453 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.