Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Indianapolis leads 13 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ 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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $328k less ($184,600 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $780/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,826)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Ontario by $18,960/yr
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Ontario, CA
Pros
69% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Households earn $18,960 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Indianapolis
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$328k less
$184,600 vs $513,000
Ontario
Median Income
$18,960
$78,070 vs $59,110/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
69% lower
272.2 vs 877.9 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indianapolis leads 13 of 23 categories. Indianapolis 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 Indianapolis to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $513,000 median home), income ($59,110 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Ontario, CA are about 1,773 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.