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

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

Rancho Cucamonga, CA

California · Population: 174,693

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

Salem, OR

Oregon · Population: 176,666

  • Median HH Income$71,900
  • Median Home Price$438,754
  • Unemployment5.3%
  • Bachelor's+31.4%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Rancho Cucamonga
174,693
Salem
176,666
Salem +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Rancho Cucamonga
N/A
Salem
N/A
Median Age
Rancho Cucamonga
37.9
Salem
35.7
Salem +
Foreign Born
Rancho Cucamonga
21.1%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
12.2%
White
Rancho Cucamonga
44.0%
Salem
69.8%
Salem +
Black
Rancho Cucamonga
8.3%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
1.6%
Asian
Rancho Cucamonga
15.4%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
3.5%
Hispanic
Rancho Cucamonga
38.5%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
23.4%
Spanish at Home
Rancho Cucamonga
N/A
Salem
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Rancho Cucamonga
$109,511
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
$71,900
Per Capita Income
Rancho Cucamonga
$45,626
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
$36,477
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Rancho Cucamonga
$77,230
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
$63,691
Unemployment Rate
Rancho Cucamonga
5.8%
Salem
5.3%
Salem +
Poverty Rate
Rancho Cucamonga
8.0%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
14.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
Rancho Cucamonga
37.3%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
31.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Rancho Cucamonga
$791,317
Salem
$438,754
Salem +
Homeownership Rate
Rancho Cucamonga
63.3%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
55.7%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Rancho Cucamonga
503
Salem
355
Salem +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Rancho Cucamonga
2388
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
3001

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Rancho Cucamonga
30.0%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
41.4%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Rancho Cucamonga
10.5%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
11.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Rancho Cucamonga
16.1%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
18.8%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Rancho Cucamonga
8.8%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
11.6%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Rancho Cucamonga
15.8%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
16.2%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Rancho Cucamonga
10.1%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
12.4%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Rancho Cucamonga
N/A
Salem
53.0°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Rancho Cucamonga
N/A
Salem
39.7 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Rancho Cucamonga
7.9 µg/m³
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
9.0 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Rancho Cucamonga
75.0%
Rancho Cucamonga +
Salem
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Rancho Cucamonga
34.6 min
Salem
24.5 min
Salem +

Which City is Right for You?

Rancho Cucamonga leads in median household income at $109,511, while salem offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $438,754. On public safety, Salem is safer with a violent crime rate of 355 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Rancho Cucamonga. Salem has a lower unemployment rate at 5.3%, and Rancho Cucamonga has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Rancho Cucamonga scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.0%.

Compare More Cities

About Rancho Cucamonga & Salem