Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Moreno Valley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($161,800 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $798/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,858)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $23,383/yr
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
36% less violent crime than Abilene
Households earn $23,383 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Abilene
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$260k less
$161,800 vs $421,400
Abilene
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
2.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$23,383
$82,637 vs $59,254/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
36% lower
272.5 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 13 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 13 and Moreno Valley wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $421,400 median home), income ($59,254 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Moreno Valley, CA are about 1,014 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.