Ontario's housing stock reflects more than a century of growth. The city's older core contains tree-lined streets of historic homes in Craftsman Bungalow, Period Revival, Victorian, Mission, and Ranch styles, a legacy of its early-20th-century expansion. Around and beyond that core, mid-century single-family subdivisions predominate, forming the bulk of the city's housing. On the edges, larger master-planned communities such as Ontario Ranch add newer construction with contemporary layouts and community amenities. The result is a market offering a wide range of home ages and types, from character-rich older houses to newly built homes, serving both long-time residents and families drawn to the area's logistics and airport-driven employment.

Ontario's neighborhoods range from its historic downtown and the surrounding early-20th-century districts, where Craftsman and Mission Revival homes line established streets, to large mid-century residential areas that fill much of the city. Ontario Ranch, a master-planned community on the city's southeastern edge, represents the newest phase of development, with modern homes and planned amenities near the Ontario Mills retail district. The downtown area, anchored by Euclid Avenue and its civic institutions, retains the city's original streetcar-era character. Neighborhood character varies block by block, with older, denser areas closer to the rail corridor and newer, more spacious subdivisions spreading toward the city's edges.

Ontario offers a practical, family-oriented lifestyle shaped by its role as an Inland Empire economic center. Ontario Mills provides a major retail and entertainment draw, while Toyota Arena hosts concerts, sports, and events that bring regional audiences to the city. The downtown area, with its historic Euclid Avenue and civic buildings, anchors a growing dining and small-business scene. The city's diversity is reflected in its restaurants and community life. With the airport, logistics employment, and major freeways all nearby, Ontario functions as a working city where daily life is convenient and connected rather than quiet or remote, while still offering access to the San Gabriel Mountains and the broader Southern California region.

Public education in Ontario is split between two districts. The Ontario-Montclair School District serves elementary and middle school students across the city and parts of neighboring Montclair, operating dozens of campuses. High school students attend the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, which runs three comprehensive high schools within Ontario — Chaffey High School, Ontario High School, and Colony High School — along with continuation and adult education programs. Chaffey High School in particular is among the region's older and larger high schools. This two-district structure is common in the Inland Empire and gives families distinct elementary and secondary school systems serving the community.

Ontario is one of the Inland Empire's principal transportation hubs. Ontario International Airport sits within the city, offering passenger flights and extensive air-cargo operations that anchor the region's logistics industry. The city is served by Interstates 10 and 15 and State Route 60, placing it at a major freeway junction roughly 38 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Freight rail lines and distribution facilities support goods movement, while Omnitrans provides local and regional bus service with connections to the airport, Ontario Mills, and surrounding cities. Commuter rail service through the region links Ontario to the broader Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Recreation in Ontario centers on its commercial and entertainment venues, led by Toyota Arena, which hosts concerts, sporting events, and family shows, and the adjoining Ontario Convention Center. Ontario Mills functions as much as a destination as a shopping center, drawing visitors from across the region. The city's parks and community facilities provide neighborhood-level recreation, while its position at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains puts hiking and outdoor recreation within a short drive. Residents also benefit from easy freeway access to the beaches, mountains, and cultural attractions of the wider Southern California region.