Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Elk Grove leads 13 of 22 categories
Elk Grove
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105
Moreno Valley
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,227 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Moreno Valley
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($421,400 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $218/mo less ($1,858 vs $2,076)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $33,227/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$33,227
$115,864 vs $82,637/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
30% lower
189.9 vs 272.5 per 100k
Elk Grove
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$139k less
$421,400 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,858⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $82,637 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 22.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 63.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 22 categories. Elk Grove wins 13 and Moreno Valley wins 9. 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 Elk Grove to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $421,400 median home), income ($115,864 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Moreno Valley, CA are about 388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.