Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, TX
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 15 of 22 categories
Pasadena
Texas
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620
Rancho Cucamonga
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
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.
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $486k less ($171,600 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $1025/mo less ($1,159 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $40,836/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.4%)
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,836 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Pasadena
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$486k less
$171,600 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$40,836
$105,534 vs $64,698/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
48% lower
293.7 vs 566.1 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, TX | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,600 ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,159 ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,698 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 134⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.9% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 73.0% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PASADENA ISD | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.8°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.9°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.1" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,620 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 15 of 22 categories. Pasadena 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 Pasadena to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,600 vs $657,400 median home), income ($64,698 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, TX and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 1,348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.