Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, NC
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697
Moreno Valley
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
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.
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($158,500 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $741/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $29,213/yr
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 7.5%)
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,213 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 54°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Fayetteville
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$263k less
$158,500 vs $421,400
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$29,213
$82,637 vs $53,424/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
59% lower
272.5 vs 660.2 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 90.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, NC | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,500 ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,117 ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,424 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.4% | 5.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cumberland County Schools | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.1°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.9" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 208,697 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.5 | 31.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.4% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.4 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Moreno Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 9 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 Fayetteville to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,500 vs $421,400 median home), income ($53,424 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, NC and Moreno Valley, CA are about 2,165 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.