Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 12 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $209k less ($304,500 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $512/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,826)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.8%)
Median income trails Ontario by $6,397/yr
Ontario, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Households earn $6,397 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Chicago
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Home Value
$209k less
$304,500 vs $513,000
Ontario
Median Income
$6,397
$78,070 vs $71,673/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
50% lower
272.2 vs 539.8 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.2% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 23 categories. Chicago 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 Chicago to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $513,000 median home), income ($71,673 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Ontario, CA are about 1,707 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.