Ontario CA vs Scottsdale AZ — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Ontario, CA

California · Population: 138,723

  • Median HH Income$116,945
  • Median Home Price$671,948
  • Unemployment4.7%
  • Bachelor's+40.1%

Scottsdale, AZ

Arizona · Population: 242,169

  • Median HH Income$107,372
  • Median Home Price$858,307
  • Unemployment3.4%
  • Bachelor's+61.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Ontario
138,723
Scottsdale
242,169
Scottsdale +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Ontario
N/A
Scottsdale
N/A
Median Age
Ontario
36.9
Ontario +
Scottsdale
49.2
Foreign Born
Ontario
21.0%
Ontario +
Scottsdale
11.2%
White
Ontario
53.6%
Scottsdale
81.8%
Scottsdale +
Black
Ontario
1.6%
Scottsdale
2.0%
Scottsdale +
Asian
Ontario
13.1%
Ontario +
Scottsdale
5.1%
Hispanic
Ontario
40.0%
Ontario +
Scottsdale
9.4%
Spanish at Home
Ontario
N/A
Scottsdale
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Ontario
$116,945
Ontario +
Scottsdale
$107,372
Per Capita Income
Ontario
$50,759
Scottsdale
$82,697
Scottsdale +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Ontario
$77,230
Ontario +
Scottsdale
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Ontario
4.7%
Scottsdale
3.4%
Scottsdale +
Poverty Rate
Ontario
9.2%
Scottsdale
7.1%
Scottsdale +
Bachelor's Degree+
Ontario
40.1%
Scottsdale
61.5%
Scottsdale +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Ontario
$671,948
Ontario +
Scottsdale
$858,307
Homeownership Rate
Ontario
58.1%
Scottsdale
67.6%
Scottsdale +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Ontario
503
Scottsdale
450
Scottsdale +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Ontario
2388
Scottsdale
2150
Scottsdale +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Ontario
33.6%
Scottsdale
26.2%
Scottsdale +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Ontario
12.0%
Scottsdale
9.4%
Scottsdale +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Ontario
17.8%
Scottsdale
12.1%
Scottsdale +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Ontario
17.0%
Scottsdale
6.3%
Scottsdale +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Ontario
15.7%
Scottsdale
15.4%
Scottsdale +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Ontario
12.0%
Scottsdale
7.4%
Scottsdale +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Ontario
65.5°F
Ontario +
Scottsdale
72.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Ontario
15.0 in
Scottsdale
10.3 in
Scottsdale +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Ontario
7.9 µg/m³
Scottsdale
7.1 µg/m³
Scottsdale +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Ontario
75.0%
Scottsdale
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Ontario
28.2 min
Scottsdale
23.2 min
Scottsdale +

Which City is Right for You?

Ontario leads in median household income at $116,945, while ontario offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $671,948. On public safety, Scottsdale is safer with a violent crime rate of 450 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Ontario. Scottsdale has a lower unemployment rate at 3.4%, and Scottsdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Scottsdale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Ontario & Scottsdale