Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 13 of 23 categories
Ontario
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
St. Louis
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
80% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $25,129 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than St. Louis
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $339k less ($174,100 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $888/mo less ($938 vs $1,826)
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $25,129/yr
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Median Income
$25,129
$78,070 vs $52,941/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
80% lower
272.2 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 89.6°F
St. Louis
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$339k less
$174,100 vs $513,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 13 of 23 categories. Ontario wins 10 and St. Louis wins 13. 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $174,100 median home), income ($78,070 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and St. Louis, MO are about 1,550 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.