Ontario, CA vs Salem, VA
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.
Ontario
63.8
#1740 nationally
Salem
73.2
#778 nationally
Ontario leads in walk score (48 vs 27). Salem leads in average commute (18.8 min vs 31.3 min). Salem leads in cost of living index (105 vs 143).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Salem, VA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.8 (#1740) | 73.2 (#778) |
| Population | 182,457 | 25,600 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $671,649 | $312,662 |
| Median Household Income | $78,070 | $68,402 |
| Average Commute | 31.3 min | 18.8 min |
| Walk Score | 48 | 27 |
| Crime Level | 7.5 | 7.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 143 | 105 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+2.1 | R+19.3 |
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 →
C
73.2 Score
Salem, VA
Small Virginia city with local appeal
Median Home
$312,662
Population
25,600
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
27
Northeast
View Salem, VA →