Ontario, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Ontario.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Ontario?
For relocators asking how much Ontario costs: the housing index sits at 165 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $568,000 and rents near $1,916. Local median income is about $82,806 and unemployment recently ran 5.5% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 32 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 359.5 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 165U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $568,000U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,916U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $82,806U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 5.5%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 32 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 359.5per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 92°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Ontario compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 185,285City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $82,806Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year5% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 165ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year65% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $568,000City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year87% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,916City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year42% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 5.5%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 32 min28% above U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 427% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 359.5annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)39% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 2340.1annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)24% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 92°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals5.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 45°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals11.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 11.6 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals65% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 330As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals23% above U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Ontario grew 12.7% from 164,377 in 2010 to 185,285 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Ontario expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Ontario's housing cost index is 165 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($568,000 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,916 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 165 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $568,000 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,916 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Ontario?
Typical ownership costs center near $568,000, while median gross rent is about $1,916 a month. Against a median household income of $82,806, rent alone is roughly 28% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $568,000
- Median rent $1,916/month
- Median household income $82,806
What is the job market like in Ontario?
County unemployment recently ran 5.5% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Ontario is about $82,806 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 5.5% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $82,806
How long is the typical commute in Ontario?
Average one-way commute time is about 32 minutes, with Walk Score near 42/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 32 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 42/100
Is Ontario safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 359.5 per 100k and property about 2340.1 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 359.5 per 100k
- Property 2340.1 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Ontario?
Normals show summer highs near 92°F, winter lows near 45°F, about 11.6 inches of rain, and roughly 330 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 92°F
- Winter low 45°F
- 11.6 in rain · 330 sunny days
Ontario, California counts about 185,285 residents inside the city limits. Households here report a median income near $82,806; our housing-derived cost index is about 165 (well above the national housing-cost baseline). A typical home near $568,000 and rents around $1,916 frame most shortlists.
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 330 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Commutes average near 32 minutes one-way, with walkability near 42/100. Unemployment near 5.5% is elevated versus many peer cities, so industry mix matters more in a move decision. Violent-offense rates around 359.5 per 100k are moderate for a large U.S. city, with meaningful variation by neighborhood.
Ontario is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Ontario with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Ontario city, 1600000US0653896) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · San Bernardino County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00003102 ONTARIO INTL AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10