Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Ontario leads 12 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
56% less violent crime than Roanoke
Households earn $26,547 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Roanoke
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $351k less ($162,000 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $909/mo less ($917 vs $1,826)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $26,547/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Median Income
$26,547
$78,070 vs $51,523/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
56% lower
272.2 vs 620.4 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 88.1°F
Roanoke
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$351k less
$162,000 vs $513,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 28.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 23 categories. Ontario wins 12 and Roanoke 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 Ontario to Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $162,000 median home), income ($78,070 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Roanoke, VA are about 2,111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.