Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 12 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
12
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.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Homes cost $331k less ($181,600 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $733/mo less ($1,093 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Ontario by $19,336/yr
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Ontario, CA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Lubbock
Households earn $19,336 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Lubbock
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lubbock
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Lubbock
Median Home Value
$331k less
$181,600 vs $513,000
Lubbock
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Ontario
Median Income
$19,336
$78,070 vs $58,734/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
67% lower
272.2 vs 821.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 6.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ 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 | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 55.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Lubbock is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 23 categories. Lubbock wins 11 and Ontario wins 12. 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 Lubbock to Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $513,000 median home), income ($58,734 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Ontario, CA are about 902 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.