Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Plano leads 18 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Rancho Cucamonga
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
174,696
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Plano, TX
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($412,500 vs $657,400)
48% less violent crime than Rancho Cucamonga
Rent averages $485/mo less ($1,699 vs $2,184)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.4%)
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Violent Crime
48% lower
151.6 vs 293.7 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$245k less
$412,500 vs $657,400
Plano
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $105,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 174,696 |
| Median Age | 38.9 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Plano is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 18 of 23 categories. Plano wins 18 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 5. 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 Plano to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $657,400 median home), income ($105,679 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 1,198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.