Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fontana, CA
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Fontana leads 15 of 21 categories
Fontana
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$93,230 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
209,279
Moreno Valley
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
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.
Fontana, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.2%)
Rent averages $242/mo less ($1,616 vs $1,858)
Households earn $10,593 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $506,600
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($421,400 vs $506,600)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Median income trails Fontana by $10,593/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fontana
Median Income
$10,593
$93,230 vs $82,637/yr
Fontana
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 107.9 on the COL index
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$85k less
$421,400 vs $506,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fontana, CA | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $506,600⚠ High | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,616⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,230 ✓ Higher | $82,637 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 78.3% | 79.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fontana Unified | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 65.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,279 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.6% ✓ Higher | 63.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 27.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 9.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fontana's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fontana leads 15 of 21 categories. Fontana wins 15 and Moreno Valley wins 6. 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 Fontana to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($506,600 vs $421,400 median home), income ($93,230 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fontana, CA and Moreno Valley, CA are about 20 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.