Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Denton leads 13 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262
Rancho Cucamonga
California
10
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $361k less ($296,100 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $920/mo less ($1,264 vs $2,184)
30% less violent crime than Rancho Cucamonga
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $33,613/yr
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,613 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Denton
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
30% lower
204.2 vs 293.7 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$361k less
$296,100 vs $657,400
Denton
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$33,613
$105,534 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Denton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 13 of 23 categories. Denton wins 13 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 10. 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 Denton to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $657,400 median home), income ($71,921 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 1,174 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.