Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 13 of 22 categories
Rancho Cucamonga
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $58,113 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Waco
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Waco
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.5%)
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $483k less ($174,100 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $1146/mo less ($1,038 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Rancho Cucamonga
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.5%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $58,113/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$58,113
$105,534 vs $47,421/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
31% lower
293.7 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$483k less
$174,100 vs $657,400
Waco
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $657,400⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,184⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,534 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 86 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alta Loma Elementary | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,696 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rancho Cucamonga's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 13 of 22 categories. Rancho Cucamonga wins 13 and Waco wins 9. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($657,400 vs $174,100 median home), income ($105,534 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,194 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.