Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Tacoma leads 14 of 23 categories
Ontario
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
Tacoma
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
74% less violent crime than Tacoma
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($415,300 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $337/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,826)
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Ontario
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Violent Crime
74% lower
272.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$1,015
$79,085 vs $78,070/yr
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$98k less
$415,300 vs $513,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tacoma leads 14 of 23 categories. Ontario wins 9 and Tacoma wins 14. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $415,300 median home), income ($78,070 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 947 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.