Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 12 of 22 categories
Carson
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Ontario
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,975 more per year on average
More college-educated — 29.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.8%)
Ontario, CA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Carson
Homes cost $103k less ($513,000 vs $616,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.8%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Smaller class sizes — 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $24,975/yr
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$24,975
$103,045 vs $78,070/yr
Ontario
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Violent Crime
35% lower
272.2 vs 420.0 per 100k
Ontario
Median Home Value
$103k less
$513,000 vs $616,000
Ontario
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $78,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 21.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 22 categories. Carson wins 10 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 Carson to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $513,000 median home), income ($103,045 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Ontario, CA are about 39 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.