Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 20 of 22 categories
Ontario
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
176,326
Peoria
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Median income trails Peoria by $8,689/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($383,600 vs $513,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $188/mo less ($1,638 vs $1,826)
Households earn $8,689 more per year on average
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$8,689
$86,759 vs $78,070/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
6% lower
254.7 vs 272.2 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$129k less
$383,600 vs $513,000
Peoria
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.8% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 93.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 29.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 20 of 22 categories. Ontario wins 2 and Peoria wins 20. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $383,600 median home), income ($78,070 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Peoria, AZ are about 304 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.