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Ontario, California Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Ontario, California had a total population of 180,547, the 25th largest city in California, with a median household income of $88,941, which is 10% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Ontario Quick Facts

Population 180,547
Median Household Income $88,941
Median Home Value $607,600
Poverty Rate 12.4%
Unemployment Rate 6.3%
Median Age 33.5 years
Homeownership Rate 58.0%
Affordability Ratio 6.8x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 22.5%
High School Graduation Rate 78.1%
Diversity Index 50/100
Population 180,547 25th of 1,570
Median Income $88,941 average
Poverty Rate 12.4% about the same as national
Median Home Value $607,600 average

How Ontario Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population178,347180,547+1.2%
Median household income$82,806$88,941+7.4%
Median home value$568,000$607,600+7.0%

How Ontario Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.8%
$25K-$50K 14.3%
$50K-$100K 29.3%
$100K+ 44.6%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
4.4%
$10K-$15K
1.9%
$15K-$20K
2.5%
$20K-$25K
3.0%
$25K-$30K
2.5%
$30K-$35K
2.8%
$35K-$40K
3.1%
$40K-$45K
3.1%
$45K-$50K
2.7%
$50K-$60K
6.4%
$60K-$75K
9.6%
$75K-$100K
13.3%
$100K-$125K
12.8%
$125K-$150K
8.8%
$150K-$200K
12.1%
$200K+
10.9%

Employment

6.3% Unemployment Rate State: 6.6%|National: 5.2%
66.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 58.0%
Renter 42.0%
Affordability Index Expensive
6.8x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $2,030/mo 27.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

50out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 70 | National average: 61

Education

Ontario Rankings in California

#25 Population of 1,570
#692 Median Income of 1,375
#879 Education of 1,570
#617 Home Value of 1,376

Other Cities in San Bernardino County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
San Bernardino 222,724 $67,415 18.6% $422,300
Fontana 214,169 $102,821 9.9% $586,800
Rancho Cucamonga 175,411 $111,895 8.0% $740,200
Victorville 137,627 $74,410 18.4% $385,600
Rialto 104,143 $88,857 12.7% $487,900
Hesperia 100,775 $72,160 17.0% $409,000
Chino 92,652 $104,682 8.0% $683,400
Upland 79,257 $105,830 9.3% $739,400
Chino Hills 77,927 $126,334 7.6% $874,900
Apple Valley 75,473 $69,882 16.6% $407,400

Cities Similar to Ontario

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Glendale190,748$88,393$1,102,30047.2%12.9%
Garden Grove170,964$92,174$814,10025.3%12.3%
Santa Rosa177,090$99,060$713,90035.1%9.7%
Oceanside172,242$97,737$770,30036.1%8.3%
Lancaster169,169$81,511$446,60020.0%15.6%

Population Overview

Ontario is a major urban center located in California, within San Bernardino County. The total population is 180,547. It ranks as the 25th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ontario is 33.5 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 37.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ontario is $88,941. This is 10% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 10% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.4%. This is 3% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $607,600. Housing costs are 17% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.8x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 58.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Ontario is Hispanic or Latino, making up 68.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 12.3%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (12.3%) is well below the state average of 33.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (68.6% vs 40.2%).

Education

22.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 78.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ontario, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

Free data download: Get all California city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Ontario, California?

Ontario, California has a population of 180,547 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Ontario, CA?

The median household income in Ontario is $88,941, which is 10% higher than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Ontario, CA?

The poverty rate in Ontario is 12.4%. This means approximately 22,298 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Ontario, California?

Ontario's population is 12.3% White, 5.8% Black, 68.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 9.6% Asian.

What is the median home value in Ontario, CA?

The median home value in Ontario is $607,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.8x.

How educated is Ontario, California?

22.5% of adults (25+) in Ontario hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.