Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Independence leads 12 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Ontario
California
11
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.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $362k less ($150,800 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $806/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,826)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $20,655/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Ontario, CA
Pros
52% less violent crime than Independence
Households earn $20,655 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Independence
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$362k less
$150,800 vs $513,000
Ontario
Median Income
$20,655
$78,070 vs $57,415/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
52% lower
272.2 vs 571.2 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Independence is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 12 of 23 categories. Independence wins 12 and Ontario wins 11. 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 Independence to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $513,000 median home), income ($57,415 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Ontario, CA are about 1,333 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.