Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 14 of 22 categories
East Los Angeles
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222
Moreno Valley
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Rent averages $489/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,858)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $18,518/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
Homes cost $161k less ($421,400 vs $582,400)
Households earn $18,518 more per year on average
More college-educated — 17.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.3%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
East Los Angeles
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$18,518
$82,637 vs $64,119/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
51% lower
272.5 vs 558.4 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$161k less
$421,400 vs $582,400
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 79.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 65.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Moreno Valley leads 14 of 22 categories. East Los Angeles wins 8 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 East Los Angeles to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $421,400 median home), income ($64,119 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Moreno Valley, CA are about 56 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.