Ontario is a city located in San Bernardino County California. Ontario has a 2024 population of 182,270. Ontario is currently growing at a rate of 0.89% annually and its population has increased by 3.65% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 175,852 in 2020.
The average household income in Ontario is $96,281 with a poverty rate of 12.91%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Ontario is 32.6 years, 32.1 years for males, and 33.2 years for females.
Ontario is located in southwestern San Bernardino County, California about 35 miles east of Los Angeles. Ontario is part of Southern California's Inland Empire, which is made up of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It's also part of the Greater Los Angeles metro area, the second largest metropolitan area in the U.S. with a population of 18.7 million.
About 27.5% of Ontario's population was born outside of the country. The city is one of many in the United States with a Hispanic majority: nearly three-quarters of Ontario's residents are Hispanic or Latino. This is in line with the rest of the Inland Empire which became majority Hispanic in 2016. The city continues to diversify with growing African-American and Asian communities as well.
Ontario has always attracted residents for its ideal climate, strong economy, and ideal location between San Bernardino and Los Angeles. Its population growth is expected to continue steadily at a rate of about 0.75% to 1% per year.
The area of Ontario was once an active American Indian settlement. In 1819, the San Bernardino Asistencia outpost of the San Gabriel mission was established in present-day Redlands, about 27 miles east of Ontario. The region then became part of an area called San Antonio.
It wasn't until the secularization of land holdings in California in 1834 that the area of Ontario was developed. In 1881, William and George Chaffey purchased the land along with current-day Upland. The brothers channeled water into the area to irrigate crops and prevent floods then created the main street of Euclid Avenue. The town was called a Model Colony because it balanced agriculture with urban amenities like churches and businesses but it was originally a dry town. The town was named Ontario in honor of Ontario province in Canada where the brothers were bor.
Ontario quickly attracted citrus farmers and Easterners who wanted a dry climate. By 1891, Ontario was incorporated. Fifteen years later, North Ontario broke away from the city and became Upland. Ontario quickly grew, increasing its population 10 times in the next 50 years the again in the next five decades, growing from 20,000 in the 1950s to 158,000 in 2000.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Ontario was:
White
Other race
Two or more races
Asian
Black or African American
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 51,760 | 3.39 | 55.7 | 44.3 |
| Married | 25,398 | 4.11 | 66.8 | 33.2 |
| Non Family | 11,872 | 1.4 | 48.9 | 51.1 |
| Female | 9,466 | 3.82 | 40.2 | 59.8 |
| Male | 5,024 | 3.61 | 44.5 | 55.5 |
3.83
Average Family Size
3.39
Average Household Size
55.7%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 95.1%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 50.02%.
All
Male
Female
$43,466
Average Earnings
$48,812
Average Male
$37,564
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
45.17% of Ontario residents speak only English, while 54.83% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 48.05% of the population.
rate
12.91%
Overall Poverty Rate
11.48%
Male Poverty Rate
14.31%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Ontario is Black, with 18.19% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Ontario is Islander, with 4.69% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.34%. Among those working part-time, it was 13.77%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 20.43%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
43.3%
Overall Marriage Rate
44.2%
Male Marriage Rate
42.4%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
5.07%
Veteran Poverty Rate
24.48%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
66.6%
Labor Force Participation
62.7%
Employment Rate
5.8%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
63.85%
Born in Ontario
72.21%
Native Born
27.79%
Foreign Born
14.42%
Non Citizen
13.37%
Naturalized
72.21% of Ontario residents were born in the United States, with 63.85% having been born in California. 14.42% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 190,292 | 1,604 | 0.85% |
| 2028 | 188,688 | 1,605 | 0.86% |
| 2027 | 187,083 | 1,604 | 0.86% |
| 2026 | 185,479 | 1,605 | 0.87% |
| 2025 | 183,874 | 1,604 | 0.88% |
| 2024 | 182,270 | 1,605 | 0.89% |
| 2023 | 180,665 | 1,604 | 0.9% |
| 2022 | 179,061 | 1,216 | 0.68% |
| 2021 | 177,845 | 1,993 | 1.13% |
| 2020 | 175,852 | -5,784 | -3.18% |
| 2019 | 181,636 | 3,001 | 1.68% |
| 2018 | 178,635 | 3,262 | 1.86% |
| 2017 | 175,373 | 3,233 | 1.88% |
| 2016 | 172,140 | 2,580 | 1.52% |
| 2015 | 169,560 | 1,309 | 0.78% |
| 2014 | 168,251 | 984 | 0.59% |
| 2013 | 167,267 | 586 | 0.35% |
| 2012 | 166,681 | 782 | 0.47% |
| 2011 | 165,899 | 1,519 | 0.92% |
| 2010 | 164,380 | 6,373 | 4.03% |
| 2000 | 158,007 | 24,828 | 18.64% |
| 1990 | 133,179 | 44,359 | 49.94% |
| 1980 | 88,820 | 24,702 | 38.53% |
| 1970 | 64,118 | 17,501 | 37.54% |
| 1960 | 46,617 | 23,745 | 103.82% |
| 1950 | 22,872 | 8,675 | 61.1% |
| 1940 | 14,197 | 614 | 4.52% |
| 1930 | 13,583 | 6,303 | 86.58% |
| 1920 | 7,280 | 3,006 | 70.33% |
| 1910 | 4,274 | 3,552 | 491.97% |
| 1900 | 722 | 39 | 5.71% |
| 1890 | 683 | 0 | 0% |