Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 13 of 22 categories
Carson
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Rancho Cucamonga
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
Rent averages $369/mo less ($1,815 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Homes cost $41k less ($616,000 vs $657,400)
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.4%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Rancho Cucamonga
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Home Value
$41k less
$616,000 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$2,489
$105,534 vs $103,045/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
30% lower
293.7 vs 420.0 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rancho Cucamonga is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 13 of 22 categories. Carson wins 9 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 13. 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 Carson to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $657,400 median home), income ($103,045 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 44 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.