Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Santa Clarita leads 12 of 23 categories
Rancho Cucamonga
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,534
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
174,696
Santa Clarita
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Rent averages $131/mo less ($2,184 vs $2,315)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $10,652/yr
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Rancho Cucamonga
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,652 more per year on average
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Rancho Cucamonga
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Home Value
$12k less
$657,400 vs $669,200
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$10,652
$116,186 vs $105,534/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
44% lower
165.4 vs 293.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $657,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,184⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,534 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 13.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 86 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alta Loma Elementary | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,696 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rancho Cucamonga's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Rancho Cucamonga is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clarita leads 12 of 23 categories. Rancho Cucamonga wins 11 and Santa Clarita 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 Rancho Cucamonga to Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($657,400 vs $669,200 median home), income ($105,534 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA and Santa Clarita, CA are about 57 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.