Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 11 of 21 categories
Rancho Cucamonga
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
174,696
Riverside
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Riverside
Households earn $22,086 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 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
Riverside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($485,500 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $473/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,184)
Smaller class sizes — 23.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $22,086/yr
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$22,086
$105,534 vs $83,448/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
50% lower
293.7 vs 589.7 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 107.9 on the COL index
Riverside
Median Home Value
$172k less
$485,500 vs $657,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $657,400⚠ High | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,184⚠ High | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,534 ✓ Higher | $83,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 86 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.1:1 | 23.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alta Loma Elementary | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,696 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rancho Cucamonga's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 11 of 21 categories. Rancho Cucamonga wins 11 and Riverside 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 Rancho Cucamonga to Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($657,400 vs $485,500 median home), income ($105,534 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA and Riverside, CA are about 17 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.