Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CA
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 21 categories
Norwalk
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893
Rancho Cucamonga
California
12
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.
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Rent averages $324/mo less ($1,860 vs $2,184)
Homes cost $64k less ($593,100 vs $657,400)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 22.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $14,275/yr
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Rancho Cucamonga
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Norwalk
Households earn $14,275 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Median Home Value
$64k less
$593,100 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$14,275
$105,534 vs $91,259/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
22% lower
293.7 vs 374.4 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, 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 | $593,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,860⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,259 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.8% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer | 67.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,893 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.6% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk'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 21 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 21 categories. Norwalk wins 9 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 12. 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 Norwalk to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,100 vs $657,400 median home), income ($91,259 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 33 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.