Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
San Francisco, 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
San Francisco
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
Homes cost $836k less ($513,000 vs $1,348,700)
54% less violent crime than San Francisco
Rent averages $490/mo less ($1,826 vs $2,316)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $58,619/yr
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $58,619 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Violent Crime
54% lower
272.2 vs 596.5 per 100k
Ontario
Median Home Value
$836k less
$513,000 vs $1,348,700
Ontario
Summer Heat
32.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$58,619
$136,689 vs $78,070/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 22 categories. Ontario wins 12 and San Francisco 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 Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($78,070 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and San Francisco, CA are about 396 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.