Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 22 categories
Rancho Cucamonga
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,534
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
174,696
San Jose
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Homes cost $492k less ($657,400 vs $1,149,600)
52% less violent crime than San Jose
Rent averages $342/mo less ($2,184 vs $2,526)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $30,476/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,476 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 20.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
52% lower
293.7 vs 606.8 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Home Value
$492k less
$657,400 vs $1,149,600
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$30,476
$136,010 vs $105,534/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $657,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,184⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,534 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 28.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 86 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.1:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alta Loma Elementary | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 18.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,696 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rancho Cucamonga's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Rancho Cucamonga is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 22 categories. Rancho Cucamonga wins 12 and San Jose 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($657,400 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($105,534 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA and San Jose, CA are about 323 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.