Set 35 miles east of Los Angeles, Ontario is an Inland Empire city of roughly 185,000 residents, growing rapidly as LA and Orange County transplants seek out comparative IE affordability. Founded as a citrus industry town in 1882 by the Chaffey brothers, the city is named for their Canadian hometown. Today, land once planted with orange-tree orchards is lined with sleek real estate developments, master-planned communities and manufacturing facilities. Cargo flights to and from the Ontario International Airport, a major west coast transport hub, are a key factor in the city's growth.
Residents here often spend their downtime at Ontario Mills, the largest outlet mall in California, or cheering on the Ontario Reign hockey team at Toyota Arena. Many make the hour-long drive into Los Angeles for its beaches, museums, shopping and nightlife. Ontario has more than 100 historic landmarks, including the St. George Church, dedicated in 1899. Just beyond the city limits, the often snow-dusted peaks of the San Bernardino Mountains and the sprawling Angeles National Forest are popular destinations for hiking and biking.
Ontario Ranch travelers are conveniently located near the Ontario International Airport.
Downtown Ontario locals head over to the Ontario Mills mall for a variety of retail options.
The Toyota Arena in Ontario hosts a variety of indoor sporting events.
Saint George Church is one of many houses of worship in Ontario.
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Home to the first gigabit community in the state
As of October 2024, the median home price in Ontario is about $650,000, the same as in Riverside; in San Bernardino it's $495,000, and in Los Angeles, roughly $1.1 million. Ontario's real estate market moves quickly, with homes selling after an average of 31 days, compared to the national average of 44 days.
The city's largest neighborhood is the expansive and still growing master-planned community of Ontario Ranch, which features a mix of new traditional homes, condos and townhomes set in uniform subdivisions. “New resort-style communities are still being built out around the community,” says Vincenzo Cuccarese, owner and developer of New Haven by Brookfield Residential, an Ontario Ranch community. Homes in Ontario Ranch were constructed between 2014 and the present day, with a median price of almost $560,000.
Ontario's northern section is its most upscale, filled with pre-war Craftsman-style homes that offer views of the San Bernardinos, the highest mountains in Los Angeles County. Midcentury ranch-style homes can be found throughout the city, as can more modern townhome communities, like Moonstone at Sunset Ranch.
Ontario Ranch is known for its on-going development of new communities and larger homes.
For those looking for condos, you'll find plenty of new construction multifamily in Ontario.
A handful of victorian homes dot Ontario's neighborhoods.
Bungalows with large lawns come in ample supply in Ontario.
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Local private schools earn As
The Ontario-Montclair school district oversees all of Ontario's public elementary and middle schools, and earns an overall B-minus from Niche. Schools on the west side of Euclid Avenue tend to be more highly rated; for instance, Edison Elementary here is the district's highest-ranking school, earning a B-plus.
The Chaffey Joint Union High School District, which oversees Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga high schools, is the top-ranked school district in San Bernadino County. Colony High School, set near Ontario Ranch, is Ontario's highest rated school, with an A-minus from Niche. Ontario Christian School, the city's top private school, earns an A-plus and is an athletic powerhouse; its golf and volleyball teams have won several California Interscholastic Federation state titles in the last decade, and girls' basketball team has competed in the state finals each year since 2021.
Euclid Elementary in Ontario is a place where your child will thrive.
Educational opportunities abound at Grace Yokley School, Ontario.
Ontario High School is part of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District in Ontario, CA.
St. George School, Ontario reflects the pride and educational opportunities of its students.
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New parks in development while older ones stand strong
Ontario has seven community centers and 35 parks. As part of the city council's 2020 Ontario Plan for urban development, construction began in 2021 on Ontario Great Park, which when complete will span 340 acres across the middle of the city, with swimming pools, a giant waterslide, boating, fishing areas and playgrounds. Meanwhile, the150-acre Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park is the city's largest greenspace. “Back in the 1970s, this place had a dock for boating, a pool and a vibrant atmosphere," says Ezra Vallejo, lifelong Ontario resident and employee of Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park. "Over time, though, the park faced some neglect. The pool’s been closed for a while now, and the pier is off-limits, but the park persists. We still draw a good crowd for parties, corporate events, and cross-country meets. This is a local treasure, and we’re committed to bringing it back to its former glory.”
Hikers, climbers and mountain bikers can head 6 miles into the San Bernardino foothills to access various trailheads. The 2,000-acre Chino State Park is 5 miles south of Ontario, with several easy-to-difficult hikes in the Santa Ana Mountains. These natural areas are home to more than 200 different bird and animal species, including bobcats and the occasional mountain lion.
Ontario Great Park is a large 130-acre recreational space currently on Phase 1 in Ontario.
Ontario locals enjoy a day of fishing at the Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park.
On the North end of San Antonio Heights, locals enjoy a morning hike on Joatngna Trail.
South Chino Hills' Chino Hills State Park has beautiful trails through rolling hills.
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Sports games and concerts held at Toyota Arena
Ontario Mills is one of the largest outlet malls in the state, with over 200 stores, more than 30 restaurants and a 30-screen AMC multiplex. Many locals in Ontario dine on authentic street food served from pop-up restaurants in people's backyards, California's AB-626 bill legalized home restaurants. Ontario began as a farm town, and there are still area farmers markets here, including the city-hosted Ontario Townsquare Farmers Market, held every Sunday year-round.
In colorful, walkable Downtown Ontario, the Museum of History and Art is set in Ontario’s former city hall, and a post office originally designed by famed 20th century L.A. architect Paul Williams has been converted to a mixed-use artist loft and gallery space. Local businesses downtown include Graber Olive House, one of the oldest olive packers in the country, and Logan's Candies, in operation since 1933, and known for their candy-cane-making demonstrations during the winter holidays. Downtown's main drag, Euclid Avenue, is closed off to car traffic for popular Halloween and Christmas fairs, and the Route 66 Cruisin' Reunion hot rod auto show is held here each year.
Established in 2015, the minor-league Ontario Reign hockey team has already formed a solid fan base. These affiliates of the Los Angeles Kings play at the 11,000-seat Toyota Arena in the downtown business district; during the off-season, the venue hosts major musical and comedy acts.
Ontario residents visit and enjoy the AMC theater at the Ontario Mills Mall.
Downtown Ontario natives and visitors enjoy the Ontario Museum of History and Art.
The famous Graber Olive House sits in the historical College Park district of Ontario.
Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion will be bringing back the iconic Fun Zone for your kids.
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The only international airport in the area
The famous US Route 66 runs just north of Ontario, leading 55 miles west to the coast in Santa Monica and 2,350 miles northeast to Lake Michigan. Interstate 15 runs north-south along the eastern side of Ontario. Traffic has long been heavy on this section of the 15, due to the number of freight trucks coming to and from the Inland Empire; to ease this traffic, the city and county broke ground on several express lanes in 2024. To avoid traffic altogether, Ontario residents can take the Los Angeles Metrolink light rail, whose Riverside Line runs from the Ontario-East station to Downtown LA.
Ontario's top healthcare providers are Kindred Hospital and Kaiser Permanente. Ontario International Airport (ONT) is served by 11 commercial carriers, but the bulk of its traffic comes from cargo flights for Amazon, FedEx and UPS, who have large local warehouses in the area.
Mitigating air and noise pollution
According to 2023 data reported by the FBI, Ontario has a property crime rate of 166 incidents per 100,000 residents, lower than the state average of 195 and the national average of 180. The violent crime rate is 69 incidents per 100,000 residents, also lower than the state average of 99 and the national average of 121.
Airport traffic noise and air pollution are major local concerns in Ontario. In 2023, the American Lung Association gave San Bernadino County an F for air quality; pollution is reportedly worst near California State Route 60, which crosses Ontario from east to west. In 2015, the South Coast Air Quality Management District ranked the residential areas near the 60 as having the worst air quality in Southern California, due to the many box trucks that use the freeway to deliver cargo. California's Advanced Clean Trucks Initiative, which stipulates heavy-duty vehicle retailers sell a mandated percentage of Zero Emissions Vehicles, and its regular Clean Truck Checks, which test emissions control systems on random vehicles, have lately contributed to cleaner air along the freeway.
J.F. Lemus is an experienced Real Estate Broker and sales professional with 22 years of real estate experience. His expertise spans a broad range of areas, including residential, commercial, land, development and property management. As a customer-focused Broker, he is passionate about prioritizing his clients' goals, happiness, and safety in building their wealth. He considers his clients' goals as his reputation and legacy and strives to help each buyer and seller to navigate the real estate process effortlessly. His main aim is to offer expert advice and get the best possible price, leveraging appropriate marketing strategies and his strong negotiating skills.
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