Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 13 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Rancho Cucamonga
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
174,696
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $516k less ($141,900 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $1158/mo less ($1,026 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $51,368/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.4%)
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,368 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Montgomery
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$516k less
$141,900 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$51,368
$105,534 vs $54,166/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
51% lower
293.7 vs 594.6 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 174,696 |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.3% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 13 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 10 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 13. 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 Montgomery to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $657,400 median home), income ($54,166 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 1,806 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.