Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Ontario leads 13 of 22 categories
Ontario
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
Homes cost $264k less ($513,000 vs $777,100)
38% less violent crime than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Rent averages $151/mo less ($1,826 vs $1,977)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Cons
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Westminster, CA
Pros
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ontario
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Ontario
Violent Crime
38% lower
272.2 vs 436.2 per 100k
Ontario
Median Home Value
$264k less
$513,000 vs $777,100
Ontario
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Ontario
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$2,201
$80,271 vs $78,070/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | C- (72) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Ontario is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Ontario leads 13 of 22 categories. Ontario wins 13 and Westminster wins 9. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $777,100 median home), income ($78,070 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Westminster, CA are about 30 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.