Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Denver leads 13 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Moreno Valley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $193/mo less ($1,665 vs $1,858)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,216 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Denver
Homes cost $119k less ($421,400 vs $540,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Median income trails Denver by $3,216/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Denver
Median Income
$3,216
$85,853 vs $82,637/yr
Denver
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
73% lower
272.5 vs 993.0 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$119k less
$421,400 vs $540,400
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $82,637 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 209,578 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Denver is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 13 of 23 categories. Denver 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 Denver to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $421,400 median home), income ($85,853 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Moreno Valley, CA are about 791 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.