Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 15 of 22 categories
Lancaster
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465
Rancho Cucamonga
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $289k less ($368,800 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $608/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,184)
Smaller class sizes — 22.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $34,167/yr
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.4%)
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
65% less violent crime than Lancaster
Households earn $34,167 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Home Value
$289k less
$368,800 vs $657,400
Lancaster
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 93.8°F
Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$34,167
$105,534 vs $71,367/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
65% lower
293.7 vs 834.7 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster'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, Rancho Cucamonga leads 15 of 22 categories. Lancaster wins 7 and Rancho Cucamonga 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 Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $657,400 median home), income ($71,367 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 52 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.