Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 21 categories
Rancho Cucamonga
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
174,696
Worcester
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,523 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
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
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Worcester
Worcester, MA
Pros
Homes cost $352k less ($305,600 vs $657,400)
94% less violent crime than Rancho Cucamonga
Rent averages $872/mo less ($1,312 vs $2,184)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $42,523/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$42,523
$105,534 vs $63,011/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
94% lower
16.5 vs 293.7 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$352k less
$305,600 vs $657,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $657,400⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,184⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,534 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 86 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 25.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alta Loma Elementary | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 174,696 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rancho Cucamonga's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 12 of 21 categories. Rancho Cucamonga wins 12 and Worcester 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($657,400 vs $305,600 median home), income ($105,534 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,516 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.