Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 16 of 22 categories
Rancho Cucamonga
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Richmond
Households earn $18,916 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.4%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Richmond, CA
Pros
Rent averages $331/mo less ($1,853 vs $2,184)
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 22.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $33k less ($624,800 vs $657,400)
Cons
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $18,916/yr
Property crime (2762.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$18,916
$105,534 vs $86,618/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
68% lower
293.7 vs 923.1 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.9% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Home Value
$33k less
$624,800 vs $657,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $657,400⚠ High | $624,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,184⚠ High | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,534 ✓ Higher | $86,618 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 86 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.1:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alta Loma Elementary | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 24.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,696 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rancho Cucamonga's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Rancho Cucamonga is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 16 of 22 categories. Rancho Cucamonga wins 16 and Richmond wins 6. 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 Rancho Cucamonga to Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($657,400 vs $624,800 median home), income ($105,534 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA and Richmond, CA are about 376 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.