Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 Ontario leads 12 of 22 categories
Ontario
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
110,358
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($513,000 vs $714,000)
23% less violent crime than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Rent averages $116/mo less ($1,826 vs $1,942)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Smaller class sizes — 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Buenaventura (Ventura) by $17,966/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.9%)
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Households earn $17,966 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.9%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,942/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Ontario
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Violent Crime
23% lower
272.2 vs 354.5 per 100k
Ontario
Median Home Value
$201k less
$513,000 vs $714,000
Ontario
Summer Heat
20.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Median Income
$17,966
$96,036 vs $78,070/yr
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,942⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 | $96,036 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 91.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 65.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 22 categories. Ontario wins 12 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) wins 10. 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 San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $714,000 median home), income ($78,070 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 96 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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