Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 17 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Rancho Cucamonga
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
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.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $524k less ($133,800 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $1140/mo less ($1,044 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $49,414/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,414 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Kansas City
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$524k less
$133,800 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$49,414
$105,534 vs $56,120/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
72% lower
293.7 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.0% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 17 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 6 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 17. 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 Kansas City to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $657,400 median home), income ($56,120 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 1,308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.