Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Des Moines leads 13 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Moreno Valley
California
10
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($170,700 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $863/mo less ($995 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.9%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $20,259/yr
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Des Moines
Households earn $20,259 more per year on average
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
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Des Moines
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$251k less
$170,700 vs $421,400
Des Moines
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$20,259
$82,637 vs $62,378/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
61% lower
272.5 vs 703.0 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 209,578 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 13 of 23 categories. Des Moines 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 Des Moines to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $421,400 median home), income ($62,378 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Moreno Valley, CA are about 1,388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.