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Living in
Ontario.
About
Life in Ontario
Living in Ontario means embracing life in the Inland Empire's most pragmatic hub—a place shaped far more by logistics, warehousing, and airport cargo than by the gloss you'd expect 35 miles east of Los Angeles. The economy here revolves around distribution centers, manufacturing, and Ontario International Airport, one of the busiest cargo airports in the nation, which means jobs are real and steady, though the median household income of around $88,941 requires balanced expectations about what that buys you. Housing costs have climbed significantly—median home values sit around $608,000, and rent averages $2,030 monthly—so you're paying Inland Empire prices that reflect proximity to LA without the lifestyle payoff of actually being in the city.
Ontario at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.4%
Foreign-Born
27.7%
Broadband Internet
94.9%
of households
Population Growth
+6.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics27.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Ontario: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Ontario, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (60.4%), and 46.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.4%
of residents
65 and Older
10.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
41.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
16.1%
of households
Married Couples
49.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.34
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for CA
Rent, home values, and income in Ontario
In Ontario, home values are 17% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
60.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
33.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
106.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,638
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $662,006 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Ontario and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Ontario is 0.7 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Ontario Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area
Commute31.5 min avg
How Ontario residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ontario, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 54% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Medium hub3.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 44 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 26% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Ontario runs 26% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
243.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,596.8
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Ontario Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 61 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Bernardino County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Bernardino County, which includes Ontario, the most common type is high wind, with 61 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 61 | Flash Flood | $4.8M |
| 2024 | 86 | High Wind | $16.4M |
| 2023 | 106 | High Wind | $4.0M |
| 2022 | 123 | High Wind | $12.1M |
| 2021 | 113 | Excessive Heat | $293,000 |
| 2020 | 78 | Excessive Heat | $298,000 |
| 2019 | 99 | Excessive Heat | $6.3M |
| 2018 | 66 | Flash Flood | $1.3M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
209 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Bernardino County, county-wide
Air Quality77 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in San Bernardino County, which includes Ontario, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
77
Good Days
46
per year
Moderate Days
209
per year
Unhealthy Days
43
per year
San Bernardino County, county-wide
Climate92°F summers, 45°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Ontario has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and mild winters (avg low 45°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/52°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
83°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
68°/45°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
11.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
93
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
2
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
36
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°F | 45°F | 2.57" |
| Feb | 68°F | 46°F | 3.07" |
| Mar | 72°F | 49°F | 1.64" |
| Apr | 76°F | 51°F | 0.76" |
| May | 80°F | 56°F | 0.30" |
| Jun | 86°F | 60°F | 0.02" |
| Jul | 94°F | 65°F | 0.05" |
| Aug | 95°F | 65°F | 0.03" |
| Sep | 91°F | 64°F | 0.10" |
| Oct | 83°F | 57°F | 0.41" |
| Nov | 75°F | 49°F | 0.80" |
| Dec | 67°F | 44°F | 1.89" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Ontario
Uninsured
9.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Ontario's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
San Antonio Regional Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Upland
Chino Valley Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Chino
Canyon Ridge Hospital
Psychiatric · 5.1 mi away · Chino
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education21.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ontario
Ontario's student/teacher ratio is 21.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 22.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
38
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Ontario
Private for-profit · 4-year · 2,671 students · in-state tuition $38,314 · 79% graduate · median earnings $104,344 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 500 students · in-state tuition $15,451 · 63% graduate · median earnings $49,629 (10 yrs after entry)
Arizona College of Nursing-Ontario
Private for-profit · 4-year · 380 students · in-state tuition $32,867 · median earnings $41,223 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 26,140 students · in-state tuition $1,364 · 35% graduate · median earnings $49,600 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 18,346 students · in-state tuition $1,428 · 29% graduate · median earnings $44,956 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 18,132 students · in-state tuition $1,184 · 27% graduate · median earnings $45,674 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,779 students · in-state tuition $1,428 · 28% graduate · median earnings $48,582 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 8,179 students · in-state tuition $42,788 · 63% graduate · median earnings $67,633 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,050 students · in-state tuition $49,550 · 65% graduate · median earnings $74,115 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, 25 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ontario
Ontario has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (25 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
25 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
67 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
97 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Ontario
Ovitt Family Community Library
215 East C Street, Ontario
Lewis Family Branch
3850 E. Riverside Drive, Ontario
Cities Near Ontario
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Ontario?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Ontario FAQ
Is Ontario, California affordable?⌄
Ontario's median rent is $2,030/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $88,941/year. Median home value is $607,600.
Is Ontario, California safe?⌄
Ontario's violent crime rate was 244 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1597 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Ontario, California?⌄
Ontario has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Ontario, California?⌄
The cost of living in Ontario is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,030/month and median household income is $88,941/year. The median home value is $607,600. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ontario, California?⌄
The average commute in Ontario is 32 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from