Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 23 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Rancho Cucamonga
California
12
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.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($347,000 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $813/mo less ($1,371 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $26,903/yr
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
40% less violent crime than Raleigh
Households earn $26,903 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Raleigh
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$310k less
$347,000 vs $657,400
Raleigh
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$26,903
$105,534 vs $78,631/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
40% lower
293.7 vs 488.8 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 174,696 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 23 categories. Raleigh wins 11 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 Raleigh to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $657,400 median home), income ($78,631 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 2,192 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.