Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
136,929
Moreno Valley
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
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.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $254k less ($167,900 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $972/mo less ($886 vs $1,858)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.9%)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $15,742/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,742 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 28°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Cedar Rapids
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Violent Crime
4% lower
261.5 vs 272.5 per 100k
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$254k less
$167,900 vs $421,400
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$15,742
$82,637 vs $66,895/yr
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% ✓ Higher | 63.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 14 of 23 categories. Cedar Rapids 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 Cedar Rapids to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $421,400 median home), income ($66,895 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Moreno Valley, CA are about 1,491 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.