Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Victorville, CA
🏆 Lancaster leads 15 of 22 categories
Lancaster
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Victorville
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,746
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Victorville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (7.5%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 19.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,621 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 22.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Victorville
Victorville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $68k less ($300,600 vs $368,800)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Rent averages $115/mo less ($1,461 vs $1,576)
Cons
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 7.5%)
Longer commutes — 40.5 min average each way
Median income trails Lancaster by $5,621/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$5,621
$71,367 vs $65,746/yr
Lancaster
Violent Crime
18% lower
834.7 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Lancaster
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
7.5% vs 10.3% unemployment
Victorville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Victorville
Median Home Value
$68k less
$300,600 vs $368,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Victorville, 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 | $300,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $65,746 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 40.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% ✓ Higher | 77.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Victor Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 97.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" | 5.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 134,417 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% | 59.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% | 30.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Victorville's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Victorville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lancaster leads 15 of 22 categories. Lancaster wins 15 and Victorville wins 7. 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 Victorville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $300,600 median home), income ($71,367 vs $65,746), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Victorville, CA are about 48 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.