Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Moreno Valley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($152,500 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $954/mo less ($904 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $24,404/yr
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,404 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Fort Wayne
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$269k less
$152,500 vs $421,400
Fort Wayne
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$24,404
$82,637 vs $58,233/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
11% lower
272.5 vs 307.5 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 209,578 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Wayne wins 13 and Moreno Valley wins 10. 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 Fort Wayne to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $421,400 median home), income ($58,233 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Moreno Valley, CA are about 1,814 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.