Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 11 of 21 categories
Los Angeles
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.8%)
Ontario, CA
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($513,000 vs $822,600)
63% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.8%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Median Income
$1,826
$78,070 vs $76,244/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
63% lower
272.2 vs 728.5 per 100k
Ontario
Median Home Value
$310k less
$513,000 vs $822,600
Ontario
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles'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 21 decided categories above, Ontario leads 11 of 21 categories. Los Angeles wins 10 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 Los Angeles to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $513,000 median home), income ($76,244 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Ontario, CA are about 46 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.