Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bakersfield, CA
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Bakersfield leads 14 of 23 categories
Bakersfield
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,827
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
404,321 ✓ Larger
Moreno Valley
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bakersfield, CA
Pros
Rent averages $575/mo less ($1,283 vs $1,858)
Homes cost $101k less ($320,600 vs $421,400)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
Smaller class sizes — 20.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (554.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2469.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $8,810/yr
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Bakersfield
Households earn $8,810 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 58°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Bakersfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Bakersfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Bakersfield
Median Home Value
$101k less
$320,600 vs $421,400
Bakersfield
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 94.1°F
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$8,810
$82,637 vs $73,827/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
51% lower
272.5 vs 554.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $320,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,283 ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,827 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 146⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (73) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.3% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 81.6% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bakersfield City | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.1°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 10.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 404,321 ✓ Larger | 209,578 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 31.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.8% ✓ More | 27.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bakersfield's cost of living index is 102.2 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Bakersfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bakersfield leads 14 of 23 categories. Bakersfield wins 14 and Moreno Valley wins 9. 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 Bakersfield to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($320,600 vs $421,400 median home), income ($73,827 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bakersfield, CA and Moreno Valley, CA are about 144 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.