Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Victorville, CA
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 15 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Victorville
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,746
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $82,481 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Victorville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.9 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Victorville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $337k less ($300,600 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $892/mo less ($1,461 vs $2,353)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $82,481/yr
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 40.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$82,481
$148,227 vs $65,746/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
86% lower
138.1 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
6.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 10.3% unemployment
Victorville
Median Home Value
$337k less
$300,600 vs $637,400
Victorville
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Victorville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $300,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $65,746 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 10.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 40.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 77.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Victor Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" | 5.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 134,417 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 59.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 30.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Victorville's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 15 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 15 and Victorville wins 8. 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 Highlands Ranch to Victorville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $300,600 median home), income ($148,227 vs $65,746), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Victorville, CA are about 765 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.