Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chino, CA
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Chino leads 13 of 22 categories
Chino
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,385 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
91,008
Lancaster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chino, CA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Lancaster
Households earn $28,018 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 59°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $599,200
Higher rents — median is $2,001/mo
Longer commutes — 34.2 min average each way
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $230k less ($368,800 vs $599,200)
Rent averages $425/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,001)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Chino by $28,018/yr
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chino
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Chino
Median Income
$28,018
$99,385 vs $71,367/yr
Chino
Violent Crime
64% lower
299.5 vs 834.7 per 100k
Chino
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$230k less
$368,800 vs $599,200
Lancaster
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 93.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chino, CA | Lancaster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $599,200⚠ High | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,001⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,385 ✓ Higher | $71,367 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 22.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chino Valley Unified | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,008 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.7% ✓ Higher | 57.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.1% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Chino is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chino leads 13 of 22 categories. Chino wins 13 and Lancaster wins 9. 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 Chino to Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($599,200 vs $368,800 median home), income ($99,385 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chino, CA and Lancaster, CA are about 58 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.