Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Aurora leads 17 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,943 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
181,405
Moreno Valley
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $180k less ($241,600 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $396/mo less ($1,462 vs $1,858)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Income
$3,306
$85,943 vs $82,637/yr
Aurora
Median Home Value
$180k less
$241,600 vs $421,400
Aurora
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 ✓ Higher | $82,637 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% ✓ Higher | 63.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 17 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 17 and Moreno Valley wins 6. 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 Aurora to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $421,400 median home), income ($85,943 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Moreno Valley, CA are about 1,659 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.