Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia leads 14 of 22 categories
Ontario
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Visalia
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,658
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Visalia
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Visalia
Visalia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($316,600 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $537/mo less ($1,289 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Median Income
$2,412
$78,070 vs $75,658/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
37% lower
272.2 vs 435.3 per 100k
Visalia
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 101.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Visalia
Median Home Value
$196k less
$316,600 vs $513,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $1,289 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 ✓ Higher | $75,658 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 6.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 23.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 86.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 55.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Visalia is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Visalia leads 14 of 22 categories. Ontario wins 8 and Visalia 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $316,600 median home), income ($78,070 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Visalia, CA are about 186 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.