Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Rancho Cucamonga
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,534
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Rancho Cucamonga
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $201/mo less ($1,983 vs $2,184)
Households earn $7,645 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.2%)
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Median income trails Alexandria by $7,645/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$7,645
$113,179 vs $105,534/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
25% lower
219.1 vs 293.7 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.4% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $105,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rancho Cucamonga is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 11 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $657,400 median home), income ($113,179 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 2,254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.