Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Fort Lauderdale leads 11 of 18 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Rancho Cucamonga
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($417,600 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $557/mo less ($1,627 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 68°F
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 21.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $30,158/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Rancho Cucamonga
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,158 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Home Value
$240k less
$417,600 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$30,158
$105,534 vs $75,376/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 67.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 ✓ Larger | 174,696 |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rancho Cucamonga is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 18 decided categories above, Fort Lauderdale leads 11 of 18 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 11 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 7. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $657,400 median home), income ($75,376 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 2,290 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
Related Comparisons
Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Pembroke Pines, FL
Rancho Cucamonga, CA vs Fontana, CA
Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Tallahassee, FL
Rancho Cucamonga, CA vs Ontario, CA
Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Cape Coral, FL
Rancho Cucamonga, CA vs Oceanside, CA
Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Port St. Lucie, FL
Rancho Cucamonga, CA vs Elk Grove, CA