Rancho Cucamonga CA vs San Bernardino CA — 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%

San Bernardino, CA

California · Population: 221,774

  • Median HH Income$63,988
  • Median Home Price$492,059
  • Unemployment6.5%
  • Bachelor's+12.8%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Rancho Cucamonga
174,693
San Bernardino
221,774
San Bernardino +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Rancho Cucamonga
N/A
San Bernardino
N/A
Median Age
Rancho Cucamonga
37.9
San Bernardino
31.9
San Bernardino +
Foreign Born
Rancho Cucamonga
21.1%
San Bernardino
22.9%
San Bernardino +
White
Rancho Cucamonga
44.0%
Rancho Cucamonga +
San Bernardino
27.6%
Black
Rancho Cucamonga
8.3%
San Bernardino
11.8%
San Bernardino +
Asian
Rancho Cucamonga
15.4%
Rancho Cucamonga +
San Bernardino
4.1%
Hispanic
Rancho Cucamonga
38.5%
San Bernardino
69.6%
San Bernardino +
Spanish at Home
Rancho Cucamonga
N/A
San Bernardino
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Rancho Cucamonga
$109,511
Rancho Cucamonga +
San Bernardino
$63,988
Per Capita Income
Rancho Cucamonga
$45,626
Rancho Cucamonga +
San Bernardino
$23,980
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Rancho Cucamonga
$77,230
San Bernardino
$77,230
Tie
Unemployment Rate
Rancho Cucamonga
5.8%
Rancho Cucamonga +
San Bernardino
6.5%
Poverty Rate
Rancho Cucamonga
8.0%
Rancho Cucamonga +
San Bernardino
19.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
Rancho Cucamonga
37.3%
Rancho Cucamonga +
San Bernardino
12.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Rancho Cucamonga
$791,317
San Bernardino
$492,059
San Bernardino +
Homeownership Rate
Rancho Cucamonga
63.3%
Rancho Cucamonga +
San Bernardino
48.5%

Safety

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

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Rancho Cucamonga
30.0%
Rancho Cucamonga +
San Bernardino
37.1%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Rancho Cucamonga
10.5%
Rancho Cucamonga +
San Bernardino
13.6%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Rancho Cucamonga
16.1%
Rancho Cucamonga +
San Bernardino
20.0%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Rancho Cucamonga
8.8%
Rancho Cucamonga +
San Bernardino
20.2%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Rancho Cucamonga
15.8%
San Bernardino
15.2%
San Bernardino +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Rancho Cucamonga
10.1%
Rancho Cucamonga +
San Bernardino
15.1%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Rancho Cucamonga
N/A
San Bernardino
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Rancho Cucamonga
N/A
San Bernardino
N/A

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Rancho Cucamonga
34.6 min
San Bernardino
30.7 min
San Bernardino +

Which City is Right for You?

Rancho Cucamonga leads in median household income at $109,511, while san Bernardino offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $492,059. On public safety, San Bernardino is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Rancho Cucamonga. Rancho Cucamonga has a lower unemployment rate at 5.8%, and San Bernardino 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 & San Bernardino