Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 El Paso leads 14 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Rancho Cucamonga
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
174,696
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $498k less ($159,300 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $1208/mo less ($976 vs $2,184)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $49,824/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.4%)
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,824 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than El Paso
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
5% lower
278.4 vs 293.7 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$498k less
$159,300 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$49,824
$105,534 vs $55,710/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 174,696 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 14 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 14 and Rancho Cucamonga 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 El Paso to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $657,400 median home), income ($55,710 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 664 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.