Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 12 of 22 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
Stockton
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,612
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
76% less violent crime than Stockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $6,458 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Stockton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $131k less ($382,000 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $409/mo less ($1,417 vs $1,826)
Cons
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.8%)
Median income trails Ontario by $6,458/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Median Income
$6,458
$78,070 vs $71,612/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
76% lower
272.2 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Stockton
Median Home Value
$131k less
$382,000 vs $513,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High | $382,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $1,417⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 ✓ Higher | $71,612 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | C- (74) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 77.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 33.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Stockton is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Ontario leads 12 of 22 categories. Ontario wins 12 and Stockton 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $382,000 median home), income ($78,070 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Stockton, CA are about 342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.