El Centro, CA vs Ontario, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
El Centro
70
#1141 nationally
Ontario
63.8
#1740 nationally
El Centro leads in average commute (21.6 min vs 31.3 min). Ontario leads in median household income ($78,070 vs $54,922). El Centro leads in cost of living index (111 vs 143).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | El Centro, CA | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70 (#1141) | 63.8 (#1740) |
| Population | 43,772 | 182,457 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $396,150 | $671,649 |
| Median Household Income | $54,922 | $78,070 |
| Average Commute | 21.6 min | 31.3 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 48 |
| Crime Level | 9.0 | 7.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 111 | 143 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+0.9 | R+2.1 |
C-
70 Score
El Centro, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$396,150
Population
43,772
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
51
Pacific
View El Centro, CA →
D
63.8 Score
Ontario, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$671,649
Population
182,457
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
48
Pacific
View Ontario, CA →