Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Glendale leads 12 of 22 categories
Glendale
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Rancho Cucamonga
California
10
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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $182/mo less ($2,002 vs $2,184)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 23.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $24,315/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.4%)
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Homes cost $335k less ($657,400 vs $992,000)
Households earn $24,315 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.4%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$24,315
$105,534 vs $81,219/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Home Value
$335k less
$657,400 vs $992,000
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $657,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 67.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 174,696 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rancho Cucamonga is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Glendale leads 12 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 12 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 Glendale to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $657,400 median home), income ($81,219 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 39 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.