Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Greensboro leads 13 of 23 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ 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.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Homes cost $316k less ($197,200 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $778/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $23,019/yr
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Ontario, CA
Pros
71% less violent crime than Greensboro
Households earn $23,019 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Greensboro
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$316k less
$197,200 vs $513,000
Ontario
Median Income
$23,019
$78,070 vs $55,051/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
71% lower
272.2 vs 923.7 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 88.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.6% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greensboro leads 13 of 23 categories. Greensboro wins 13 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 Greensboro to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $513,000 median home), income ($55,051 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Ontario, CA are about 2,128 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.