Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 21 categories
Rancho Cucamonga
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Households earn $9,315 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
West Covina, CA
Pros
19% less violent crime than Rancho Cucamonga
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $130/mo less ($2,054 vs $2,184)
Smaller class sizes — 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.4%)
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $9,315/yr
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Rancho Cucamonga
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 Income
$9,315
$105,534 vs $96,219/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.3°F
West Covina
Violent Crime
19% lower
239.3 vs 293.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | West Covina, 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 | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,184⚠ High | $2,054⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,534 ✓ Higher | $96,219 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 86 ✓ Safer | 100 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.1:1 | 21.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alta Loma Elementary | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,696 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rancho Cucamonga's cost of living index is 107.9 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Rancho Cucamonga is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 21 categories. Rancho Cucamonga wins 12 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($657,400 vs $664,500 median home), income ($105,534 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA and West Covina, CA are about 20 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.