Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver 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
Vancouver
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,626
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Vancouver
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Households earn $4,444 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Homes cost $110k less ($403,400 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $301/mo less ($1,525 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Ontario by $4,444/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Median Income
$4,444
$78,070 vs $73,626/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
53% lower
272.2 vs 582.3 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Vancouver
Median Home Value
$110k less
$403,400 vs $513,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High | $403,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $1,525⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 ✓ Higher | $73,626 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Vancouver is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 13 of 23 categories. Ontario wins 10 and Vancouver 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $403,400 median home), income ($78,070 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Vancouver, WA are about 844 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.