Rancho Cucamonga, California

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.

An honest point of view about living in Rancho Cucamonga