Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 14 of 22 categories
Ontario
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Vallejo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $8,042/yr
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $8,042 more per year on average
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.8%)
Longer commutes — 36.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Violent Crime
63% lower
272.2 vs 739.8 per 100k
Ontario
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.0% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Income
$8,042
$86,112 vs $78,070/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 21.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Ontario leads 14 of 22 categories. Ontario wins 14 and Vallejo wins 8. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $515,500 median home), income ($78,070 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Vallejo, CA are about 383 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.