Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Rancho Cucamonga
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
174,696
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($461,500 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $635/mo less ($1,549 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $18,978/yr
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Austin
Households earn $18,978 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 63°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Austin
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Home Value
$196k less
$461,500 vs $657,400
Austin
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$18,978
$105,534 vs $86,556/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
37% lower
293.7 vs 466.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 174,696 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Austin is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 23 categories. Austin 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 Austin to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $657,400 median home), income ($86,556 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 1,186 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.