Getting its title from the Tongva word for “sandy place,” Rancho Cucamonga’s climate lives up to what you'd expect based on its namesake. With close to 300 sunny days per year and Mediterranean weather year round, the weather in Rancho Cucamonga is a SoCal experience. With proximity to the gorgeous San Gabriel Mountains, Angeles National Forests, a variety of beaches, and, of course, Los Angeles, you’ll have more than enough outlets to enjoy that year round warmth as well.

**Review of the city from a 2nd generation resident:** 
*My family moved here in the 80s, it was great. Now my kids go to the same schools I did as a kid. Things are different, but that’s more of a sign of the times. We have well maintained walking/cycling trails. We have a minor league baseball team. Some of the newer areas have municipal fiber internet.
We’re 45 minutes from everything, mountains, desert, beaches, big city thrills.
We recently won “All America City” last year. Our public libraries won the top prize a couple of years ago.*

For more reviews of what living in Rancho Cucamonga is like from locals check out: [**The Buzz**](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/rancho-cucamonga?page=buzz)

SoCal Climate

The Best Thing About Rancho Cucamonga

As is the case with most of California, living in paradise is going to cost you a pretty penny. Housing costs are not just well above the national median, but the San Bernardino County median as well. Not only will your house cost you, but other necessities like food, taxes, gas and more will be expensive as well. It’s a bit cheaper than LA, but that’s like saying something is a bit cooler than an August afternoon in Rancho Cucamonga: it’s not saying much.

**Here's a note from a local about Rancho:**
*Since everyone seems to be touching on it, it occurs to me that the IE gets flack not because the IE is horrible, but that all the really cool stuff is somewhere else. It's super convenient that everything is an hour away. But that means everything is an hour away. Rancho itself is nice but a little dull; because whenever you want to do something cool, it means leaving Rancho. I do like the area though, anywhere as nice/better gets ridiculously expensive.*

 SoCal costs

The Worst Thing About Rancho Cucamonga?

Rancho Cucamonga is often described as one of the more “mellow” and “sleepy” suburban corners of the Los Angeles area. Like the rest of that area, a car is a necessity for living in Rancho Cucamonga due to the general sprawl and lack of public transportation, although what you can reach with that car likely will make this worth it. 

Spending time outside is a big pastime for residents with a variety of local parks in addition to the aforementioned San Gabriel Mountains, Angeles National Forests, and beaches. Rancho Cucamonga is popular with families, which can be attributed in large part to its great public schools and comforting safety scores compared to the rest of the area. For young professionals and those without kids, however, Rancho Cucamonga can feel isolating. Residents complain that there’s not all that much to do at night without driving into LA. It would probably make more sense for those without kids to stick closer to LA.

If you want to see what happens in Rancho Cucamonga check out the calendar of events: https://www.cityofrc.us/events

Lifestyle of Rancho Cucamonga

If you’re a parent looking for a new home in the Inland Empire (east of LA) then Rancho Cucamonga is an excellent place to start your search. It has better homes and better schools in an area that will let you take a breather from LA or San Diego madness but you still get to enjoy the SoCal weather.


Best Of The Inland Empire

Why You Should Move Here Now?

Rancho Cucamonga is primarily a bedroom community but there are definitely apartment and condo options in the downtown area and near commercial areas. If you need/want to live in the city for work or access to the mountains to the east then targeting downtown is your best option. Restaurants and bars and coffee shops exist throughout the city but certainly the densest concentration is downtown. Perhaps most importantly to many, the train station in Ranch Cucamonga is just a 40 minute ride to Downtown LA so whether for work or social you can avoid traffic and take the train.
- Downtown


Young Professionals

Downtown

Heritage Park, on the northern side of the city, is an amazing neighborhood to start your search. First, it’s beautiful, with walking trails, horseback riding and a mix of modest (although still pricey) homes to monsters that come in well over a million. Like much of Rancho it has excellent schools. Etiwanda is another great option, particularly well known for its school district, the area is also cool for its wonderful winery, and great newer neighborhoods. Terra Vista is another great neighborhood with the best park in the city, Central Park. It acts as a neighborhood center, with ponds, rolling hills and plenty of space for the kiddos to play. If you favor golf then check out the Red Hill neighborhood. Homes line the golf club, or you can also target the ones that run alongside Red Hill Park, another perfect park. It has a duck pond, baseball fields, play structures and everything the little beans could want. 
- Alta Loma
- Etiwanda
- Terra Vista
- Red Hill


Families

Alta Loma

Rancho Cucamonga

**What is it like to live in Rancho Cucamonga, CA?**

Originally Answered: What’s it like living in Rancho Cucamonga?
Rancho Cucamonga is a pretty sleepy bedroom community of the Greater Los Angeles megalopolis, although in a different county (San Bernardino). There are lots of conveniences around, lots of theaters, shopping, etc. The weather does get a little cold in the winter at night, and hot in the summer during the day. Some days are smoggy, especially in the summer. You are about an hour away from many attractions in Los Angeles, and the beaches. There is a convenient airport, Ontario International airport, just a few minutes down the road, and the high desert, Colorado river, and Las Vegas are only a half-day’s journey.

Of course, any travel on freeways is controlled by traffic! If you’re not used to traffic, beware. Freeways can be stop-and-go at 5am every workday, and on Sunday evenings, when everyone is headed back into LA from their weekend trips. (Hint: if you going to be driving to work, live as close as you can to work!)

Depending on what you are looking for, Rancho Cucamonga can be one of the safer, inexpensive areas to live in Southern California.

**What is it like to live in Rancho Cucamonga, CA?**

I LOVE IT!!!

I have lived in Rancho Cucamonga for almost 10 years. Each day, as I drive home from the Metrolink train station (1 1/2 blocks from my home) I don’t walk as it is too hot or too early - still dark. I think how clean and peaceful it is. Everything is convenient to where I live. Within a few miles of home I have 3 supermarkets. Then there are the specialty stores such as Trader Joe’s, Sprout, etc. There is a nearby Costco, WalMart, Sam’s Club, Target, Ontario Mills Mall is right down the street. (I live on 4th & Milliken Avenue).

For food and entertainment there is the Edwards Ontario Palace and the AMC theatre. They are right across from each other. All of the major stores for clothing and other fashion items are in walking distance. I own 2 pups and PetSmart and the Banfield dog hospital, groomers, Pet Hotel and Doggie Daycamp is right there.

Love shoes? There is a DSW right next to a Target Store. Nordstrom’s Rack (I just purchased 2 pairs of really cute sandals there) is right down the street in Ontario Mills Mall. Need to Bank? There is a US Bank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America within a mile or so of each other! Arrowhead Credit Union also. Want a perfect Margarita? BJ’s Bar & Grill is there, Chevy’s Restaurant, Red Lobster, Market Broiler Seafood Restaurant (my favorite). The Improv if you like standup comics it’s at the Onatrio Mills Mall. Video games? Dave & Buster. Big Al’s! Like pretty home accessories/decorations? Bed Bath & Beyond is there which is right across from Panera Bread! Yummm! A beautiful Library and the Lewis Theatre Playhouse is right there at Victoria Gardens Mall! Almost all of the major names in fashion are there including LuLu Lemon! There’s also the Apple Store!

There is a Kaiser hospital location, Urgent care, Jiffy Lube. Need new tires? American Tire Company. I could go on & on but I’ll stop there. Oh, one more thing -it’s beautiful and did I say clean?

**Is Rancho Cucamonga a good place to raise a family? Thinking of moving here from the Bay Area**

It's a really nice place. I live in an older neighborhood off the 210 and Day Creek. There's parks, walking trails, lots of trees, lots of families, lots of kids.

The city has a wide range of restaurants and amenities, and anything it doesn't have you can find not far away. There's a minor league ballpark -- it's good, cheap fun to go see the Quakes during the summer. The city also communicates pretty well with residents. You can check out the city website if you haven't.

**Is Rancho Cucamonga a good place to raise a family? Thinking of moving here from the Bay Area**

My family moved here in the 80s, it was great. Now my kids go to the same schools I did as a kid.

Things are different, but that’s more of a sign of the times. We have well maintained walking/cycling trails. We have a minor league baseball team. Some of the newer areas have municipal fiber internet.

We’re 45 minutes from everything, mountains, desert, beaches, big city thrills.

We recently won “All America City” last year. Our public libraries won the top prize a couple of years ago.

10/10 would recommend.

Rancho Cucamonga, California

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