Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962
Moreno Valley
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $38,902 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Homes cost $576k less ($421,400 vs $997,600)
38% less violent crime than Cambridge
Rent averages $770/mo less ($1,858 vs $2,628)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 37°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $38,902/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 3.3%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$38,902
$121,539 vs $82,637/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
38% lower
272.5 vs 436.7 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$576k less
$421,400 vs $997,600
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,858⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $82,637 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 31.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Moreno Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 9 and Moreno Valley wins 14. 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 Cambridge to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $421,400 median home), income ($121,539 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Moreno Valley, CA are about 2,539 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.