Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 14 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
Ontario
California
14
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $314k less ($198,900 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $672/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $36,229/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 5.8%)
Ontario, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,229 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Hartford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Hartford
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Median Home Value
$314k less
$198,900 vs $513,000
Ontario
Median Income
$36,229
$78,070 vs $41,841/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
47% lower
272.2 vs 515.8 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 10.6% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 19.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 76.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 14 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 9 and Ontario wins 14. 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 Hartford to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $513,000 median home), income ($41,841 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Ontario, CA are about 2,478 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.