what is ontario like? (Santa Ana, Riverside: for rent, credit, homes)

[kristinl]

I am moving there and know nothing about it or the surrounding area. What is it like? nice? undesirable? safe? etc.

What are the closest towns and what is the weather like?

I am going to school there I believe and have not even been out to visit. Thank you,
kristin

[CSchuman]

Well, it depends heavily on what part of Ontario. What school are you going to? The only University I can think of out there would be University of LaVerne or one of the Claremont colleges. UofL has a Great law school by the way, its the only ABA Accredited school in the Inland Empire. =)

Weather: Californian. We only have two seasons. Summer, and Winter.

Traffic: You can't escape it anywhere you go in California.

Crime: Ontario isn't that bad. If you stay in near the subdivisions, and sea of homes, you should be OK.

Things to Do: Ontario Mills, Victoria Gardens, The Beach is an hour away. The San Bernardino Mountains are an hour away.

Other: Ontario INTL Airport is awesome! Its so much faster than LAX, but plane tickets are usually more money to fly in and out of Ontario.

Closest towns: Rancho Cucamonga, Chino, Claremont, Fontana, Riverside, Lytle Creek, etc..


Overall, its a nice place to live if you stay near the newly developed areas. Victoria Gardens is a very nice, modern day, outside mall.

[kristinl]

thank you so much for your response. Yes it is U of Laverne law school and I am so thrilled to be coming out to the west coast, I live in Northern va now and have all of my life.

So what area would be closest to the school? also safe and not super expensive? I hope to get a one bedroom.

The traffic is so horrible here in dc metro area but I guess I wont be able to escape it there. oh well I will trade better weather for no traffic improvement.

[McHopper]

I may be considering a move to that area also and from living here for the past 5 years, I am looking to rent, not buy. I have zeroed in on North Ontario, that is, north of the 10fwy or Rancho Cucamonga or Upland closer
to their northern borders closer to 210. These seem to be nicer areas. Claremont is great, but rent is high and you don't want to be south of the 10 there. Have you decided that LaVerne itself is too expensive?

[useful]

Ontario is actually a great place to live. Lots to do. The weather is nice. Cold in the Winter and Hot in the Summer. The Ontario Airport is fabulous. Quick in and out.

As for living, I actually found several nice areas South of the 60 freeway (Close to Chino). Lots of newer homes, and shopping plazas. Then there's North of the 10 freeway (closer to Upland & Rancho Cucamonga). Loads of eateries, and shopping plazas. Some historical areas.


In the middle there hasn't been that much development yet. I would also suggest going to their website (find it on this site too) to learn more. The demographic info is pretty accurate.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by useful

Ontario is actually a great place to live. Lots to do. The weather is nice. Cold in the Winter and Hot in the Summer. .

By cold, this poster means cold by So Cal inland valley standards, not Minnesota or Maine standards. There is no snow or ice, and the lowest winter temps tend to fall in the high 30s to low 40s. Once in a blue moon you'll see mid-twenties.

The summers are torrid but the humidity is low, and you know what they say about a dry heat.

In the Fall, the Santa Ana Winds are a common occurrence, and those have to be experienced to be appreciated. 70 to 100mph gusts are not uncommon, and the winds are bone dry, sucking the moisture out of everything and everybody.

[Forever Blue]

Just like w/ many other cities, there are good parts & worse parts of Ontario. The newer developed areas like another poster said is of course nicer. I wouldn't live in the area of Ontario where the city of Monclair is next to. I work for a school district where the elementary schools are in Ontario & Montclair & those schools are in kind of crummy areas.

I think the nicest city in San Bernardino county is Rancho Cucamonga. It's not just because I live here, but it's truely the nicest. I can't really think of a bad part of Rancho C, but in most other cities in the county, there are good & crummier parts.

Even for a 1 bedroom apt, be prepared to pay about $900 - 1150/mo for rent. (Just for comparison, the city of RC's rent is about $1000 - $1450/mo).

[loveCali]

Don't forget Chino Hills, it's also in San Bernardino County and is really nice and safe... and expensive of course.

[the one 1]

like the others posters have said...it depends what part

from D street south till u hit Francis is not a good area at all....alot of gang activity...shootings...drug sales...the whole 9...

most of western ontario is not great either until u hit about 4 street...

the area around john gavlin park and east of grove isnt nice either...i was actually hit up and almost jumped at that park by the local varrio when i was younger but was able to get away...

Holt blvd is infamous for prostitution and slanging in ontario montclair and pomona...


the nicer areas are below the 60 bordering chino or far to the north bordering upland....

[the one 1]

the weather is nice imo...never cold imo...can get hella hot in the summers but its not awful....

closest cities are montclair...chino...upland...pomona...claremont... rancho...