Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Providence leads 15 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Providence
Rhode Island
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Households earn $10,002 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 38°F
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Providence, RI
Pros
67% less violent crime than Lancaster
Rent averages $362/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,576)
Homes cost $76k less ($293,000 vs $368,800)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $10,002/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$10,002
$71,367 vs $61,365/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
67% lower
276.7 vs 834.7 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$76k less
$293,000 vs $368,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $293,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 82.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 15 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 8 and Providence wins 15. 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 Lancaster to Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $293,000 median home), income ($71,367 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Providence, RI are about 2,552 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.