Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories
Rancho Cucamonga
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,064
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Households earn $10,470 more per year on average
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
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.6%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Thornton
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $212k less ($445,200 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $426/mo less ($1,758 vs $2,184)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $10,470/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$10,470
$105,534 vs $95,064/yr
Thornton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Violent Crime
7% lower
273.6 vs 293.7 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$212k less
$445,200 vs $657,400
Thornton
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $657,400⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,184⚠ High | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,534 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 86 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.1:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alta Loma Elementary | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,696 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rancho Cucamonga's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories. Rancho Cucamonga wins 11 and Thornton 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($657,400 vs $445,200 median home), income ($105,534 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA and Thornton, CO are about 802 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.