Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Lancaster leads 12 of 22 categories
Lancaster
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Ontario
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($368,800 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $250/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,826)
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.8%)
Median income trails Ontario by $6,703/yr
Ontario, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $6,703 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$144k less
$368,800 vs $513,000
Lancaster
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 93.8°F
Ontario
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Median Income
$6,703
$78,070 vs $71,367/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
67% lower
272.2 vs 834.7 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | C- (65) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 21.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 11.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster'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 22 decided categories above, Lancaster leads 12 of 22 categories. Lancaster wins 12 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 Lancaster to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $513,000 median home), income ($71,367 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Ontario, CA are about 56 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.