Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 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
Salem
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $10,530 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Salem
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $602/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,826)
Homes cost $164k less ($349,500 vs $513,000)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Ontario by $10,530/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Median Income
$10,530
$78,070 vs $67,540/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
49% lower
272.2 vs 532.2 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Home Value
$164k less
$349,500 vs $513,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High | $349,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 19.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 23 categories. Ontario wins 12 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $349,500 median home), income ($78,070 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Salem, OR are about 805 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.