Lancaster vs Rancho Cucamonga: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Lancaster, CA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricLancaster, CARancho Cucamonga, CA
Population171,465174,696
Median household income$71,367$105,534
Median home value$368,800$657,400
Median rent (/mo)$1,576$2,184

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Lancaster, CA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA comes down to what you value most. Lancaster has the lower median home value, and Lancaster has the lower median rent.

Rancho Cucamonga has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Lancaster or Rancho Cucamonga?
By median home value, Lancaster is the cheaper of the two ($368,800 vs $657,400). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Lancaster or Rancho Cucamonga?
Median household income is $71,367 in Lancaster versus $105,534 in Rancho Cucamonga, per the US Census Bureau.

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