Places › California › Rancho Cucamonga

Living in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Mid-size city in California

Rancho Cucamonga is a mid-size city in California, home to about 175,000 people, with 5.5 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Rancho Cucamonga a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
  • Strong healthcare: 12 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Big job market: about 5.5 million people live within 31 mi
  • Easy flying: ONT is 6 mi away

👎 Cons

  • Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $703k, and rent is $2,910 a month
  • Higher taxes: about $3,279 state income tax per resident, 0.72% property tax
  • Few dog parks: 15 within 9 mi
  • Hot summers: highs around 92°F

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Rancho Cucamonga ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
175,000
5.5 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
68°F / 92°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$703k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,910/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
106
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$3,279
State income tax per resident · 0.72% property tax
Safety
0.7× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
9 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, earthquakes
Top-rated hospitals
12
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
37%
7 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
ONT
6 mi away

Living in Rancho Cucamonga: common questions

What is the cost of living in Rancho Cucamonga?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $703k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,910 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 106, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Rancho Cucamonga?

California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.72% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Rancho Cucamonga safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.7× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Rancho Cucamonga?

Rancho Cucamonga is warm all year: winter days average around 68°F and summer days around 92°F.

Does Rancho Cucamonga get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding and earthquakes: 9 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.6 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Rancho Cucamonga?

The nearest major airport is ONT, about 6 mi away.

How Rancho Cucamonga scores

Each bar compares Rancho Cucamonga with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Major metro Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Strong culture scene Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Warm all year Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Expensive Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Fast-paced Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Some community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Below average
💸Low taxes Below average
💼Job market Excellent
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Excellent
🧸Kids & family Good
🐕Dog-friendly Below average
⛰️Outdoors Good
🎭Culture Good
🛡️Safety Safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Average
☀️Sunny Excellent
🌤️Mild summers Below average
✈️Airport Excellent

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Is Rancho Cucamonga right for you?

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.