Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Gresham
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,437
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525
Moreno Valley
California
11
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Rent averages $406/mo less ($1,452 vs $1,858)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
More college-educated — 23.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $13,200/yr
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Gresham
Households earn $13,200 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.8%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Gresham
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$13,200
$82,637 vs $69,437/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
34% lower
272.5 vs 410.2 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Gresham is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Gresham wins 11 and Moreno Valley wins 11. 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 Gresham to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $421,400 median home), income ($69,437 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Moreno Valley, CA are about 847 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.