Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Norwalk leads 13 of 23 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Rancho Cucamonga
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
71% less violent crime than Rancho Cucamonga
Homes cost $166k less ($491,800 vs $657,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $323/mo less ($1,861 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $7,655/yr
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Households earn $7,655 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Violent Crime
71% lower
85.0 vs 293.7 per 100k
Norwalk
Median Home Value
$166k less
$491,800 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$7,655
$105,534 vs $97,879/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norwalk leads 13 of 23 categories. Norwalk wins 13 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 10. 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 ($491,800 vs $657,400 median home), income ($97,879 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 2,437 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.