Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 13 of 22 categories
El Cajon
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721
Moreno Valley
California
13
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.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $172/mo less ($1,686 vs $1,858)
More college-educated — 23.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $18,509/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Moreno Valley
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than El Cajon
Homes cost $172k less ($421,400 vs $593,500)
Households earn $18,509 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (7.5%)
Smaller class sizes — 22.2:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$18,509
$82,637 vs $64,128/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
37% lower
272.5 vs 434.4 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$172k less
$421,400 vs $593,500
Moreno Valley
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 22.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 65.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Moreno Valley leads 13 of 22 categories. El Cajon wins 9 and Moreno Valley wins 13. 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 El Cajon to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $421,400 median home), income ($64,128 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Moreno Valley, CA are about 79 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.