Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 15 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Moreno Valley
California
15
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 Monte, CA
Pros
Rent averages $253/mo less ($1,605 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (7.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $22,708/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Moreno Valley
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($421,400 vs $597,200)
36% less violent crime than El Monte
Households earn $22,708 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
More college-educated — 17.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
7.0% 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
$22,708
$82,637 vs $59,929/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
36% lower
272.5 vs 423.2 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$176k less
$421,400 vs $597,200
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, 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 | $597,200⚠ High | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 5.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 79.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 65.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte'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 15 of 22 categories. El Monte wins 7 and Moreno Valley wins 15. 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 Monte to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $421,400 median home), income ($59,929 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Moreno Valley, CA are about 48 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.