Oceanside CA vs Rancho Cucamonga CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Oceanside, CA

California · Population: 172,542

  • Median HH Income$93,724
  • Median Home Price$877,452
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+34.3%

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

California · Population: 174,693

  • Median HH Income$109,511
  • Median Home Price$791,317
  • Unemployment5.8%
  • Bachelor's+37.3%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Oceanside
172,542
Rancho Cucamonga
174,693
Rancho Cucamonga +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Oceanside
N/A
Rancho Cucamonga
N/A
Median Age
Oceanside
38.1
Rancho Cucamonga
37.9
Rancho Cucamonga +
Foreign Born
Oceanside
20.9%
Rancho Cucamonga
21.1%
Rancho Cucamonga +
White
Oceanside
52.9%
Oceanside +
Rancho Cucamonga
44.0%
Black
Oceanside
4.2%
Rancho Cucamonga
8.3%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Asian
Oceanside
7.4%
Rancho Cucamonga
15.4%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Hispanic
Oceanside
38.5%
Oceanside +
Rancho Cucamonga
38.5%
Spanish at Home
Oceanside
N/A
Rancho Cucamonga
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Oceanside
$93,724
Rancho Cucamonga
$109,511
Rancho Cucamonga +
Per Capita Income
Oceanside
$43,094
Rancho Cucamonga
$45,626
Rancho Cucamonga +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Oceanside
$77,230
Rancho Cucamonga
$77,230
Tie
Unemployment Rate
Oceanside
5.4%
Oceanside +
Rancho Cucamonga
5.8%
Poverty Rate
Oceanside
8.1%
Rancho Cucamonga
8.0%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Bachelor's Degree+
Oceanside
34.3%
Rancho Cucamonga
37.3%
Rancho Cucamonga +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Oceanside
$877,452
Rancho Cucamonga
$791,317
Rancho Cucamonga +
Homeownership Rate
Oceanside
58.5%
Rancho Cucamonga
63.3%
Rancho Cucamonga +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Oceanside
503
Rancho Cucamonga
503
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Oceanside
2388
Rancho Cucamonga
2388
Tie

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Oceanside
26.1%
Oceanside +
Rancho Cucamonga
30.0%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Oceanside
10.4%
Oceanside +
Rancho Cucamonga
10.5%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Oceanside
16.9%
Rancho Cucamonga
16.1%
Rancho Cucamonga +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Oceanside
9.7%
Rancho Cucamonga
8.8%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Oceanside
16.5%
Rancho Cucamonga
15.8%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Oceanside
10.6%
Rancho Cucamonga
10.1%
Rancho Cucamonga +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Oceanside
55.3°F
Rancho Cucamonga
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Oceanside
20.7 in
Rancho Cucamonga
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Oceanside
7.9 µg/m³
Rancho Cucamonga
7.9 µg/m³
Tie
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Oceanside
75.0%
Rancho Cucamonga
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Oceanside
31.8 min
Oceanside +
Rancho Cucamonga
34.6 min

Which City is Right for You?

Rancho Cucamonga leads in median household income at $109,511, while rancho Cucamonga offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $791,317. On public safety, Rancho Cucamonga is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Oceanside. Oceanside has a lower unemployment rate at 5.4%, and Rancho Cucamonga has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Oceanside scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.1%.

Compare More Cities

About Oceanside & Rancho Cucamonga