Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 14 of 22 categories
Ontario
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
Homes cost $335k less ($513,000 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $322/mo less ($1,826 vs $2,148)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Smaller class sizes — 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $31,265/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,265 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Ontario
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Ontario
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Median Home Value
$335k less
$513,000 vs $848,200
Ontario
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$31,265
$109,335 vs $78,070/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
17% lower
226.1 vs 272.2 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orange leads 14 of 22 categories. Ontario wins 8 and Orange wins 14. 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 Ontario to Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $848,200 median home), income ($78,070 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Orange, CA are about 23 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.