Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 12 of 22 categories
Ontario
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
Homes cost $996k less ($513,000 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1145/mo less ($1,826 vs $2,971)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $71,082/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $71,082 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% less violent crime than Ontario
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Ontario
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Median Home Value
$996k less
$513,000 vs $1,508,900
Ontario
Summer Heat
21.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$71,082
$149,152 vs $78,070/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
11% lower
243.2 vs 272.2 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 19.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 12 of 22 categories. Ontario wins 10 and San Mateo wins 12. 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 Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($78,070 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and San Mateo, CA are about 359 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.