Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Garland leads 12 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Rancho Cucamonga
California
11
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.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $428k less ($229,000 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $763/mo less ($1,421 vs $2,184)
21% less violent crime than Rancho Cucamonga
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $34,490/yr
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,490 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 Garland
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
21% lower
232.7 vs 293.7 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$428k less
$229,000 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$34,490
$105,534 vs $71,044/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, 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 | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 174,696 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Garland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 12 of 23 categories. Garland wins 12 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 11. 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 Garland to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $657,400 median home), income ($71,044 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 1,207 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.