Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Las Vegas, NV
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Las Vegas leads 14 of 22 categories
Las Vegas
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,356
Violent Crime Index
113⚠ High
Population
644,835 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
8
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.
Las Vegas, NV
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($365,300 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $470/mo less ($1,356 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $11,714/yr
Property crime (2622.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Ontario, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Las Vegas
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $11,714 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Las Vegas
Key Differences at a Glance
Las Vegas
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Las Vegas
Median Home Value
$148k less
$365,300 vs $513,000
Las Vegas
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 103.8°F vs 93.8°F
Ontario
Median Income
$11,714
$78,070 vs $66,356/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
37% lower
272.2 vs 429.8 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Las Vegas, NV | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $365,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,356⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,356 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 118⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.3% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clark County | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 103.8°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.1" ✓ Drier | 11.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 644,835 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas's cost of living index is 101.6 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Las Vegas is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Las Vegas leads 14 of 22 categories. Las Vegas wins 14 and Ontario wins 8. 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 Las Vegas to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($365,300 vs $513,000 median home), income ($66,356 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Las Vegas, NV and Ontario, CA are about 201 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.