Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 12 of 21 categories
Downey
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 25.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,166 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Ontario, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Downey
Homes cost $166k less ($513,000 vs $679,000)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Smaller class sizes — 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $6,166/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$6,166
$84,236 vs $78,070/yr
Ontario
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Violent Crime
41% lower
272.2 vs 460.5 per 100k
Ontario
Median Home Value
$166k less
$513,000 vs $679,000
Ontario
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, 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 | $679,000⚠ High | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $78,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ 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 | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey'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 21 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 21 categories. Downey wins 9 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 Downey to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $513,000 median home), income ($84,236 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Ontario, CA are about 31 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.