Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Buckeye leads 14 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Rancho Cucamonga
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $316k less ($341,700 vs $657,400)
43% less violent crime than Rancho Cucamonga
Rent averages $587/mo less ($1,597 vs $2,184)
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
Smaller class sizes — 20.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $11,346/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,346 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 107°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Buckeye
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Violent Crime
43% lower
166.8 vs 293.7 per 100k
Buckeye
Median Home Value
$316k less
$341,700 vs $657,400
Buckeye
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 93.8°F
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$11,346
$105,534 vs $94,188/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 14 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 14 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 8. 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 Buckeye to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $657,400 median home), income ($94,188 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 287 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.