Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 14 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Rancho Cucamonga
California
14
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($546,200 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $137/mo less ($2,047 vs $2,184)
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $6,677/yr
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Fairfield
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Households earn $6,677 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Home Value
$111k less
$546,200 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$6,677
$105,534 vs $98,857/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
41% lower
293.7 vs 498.0 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rancho Cucamonga is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 14 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 8 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 14. 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 Fairfield to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $657,400 median home), income ($98,857 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.