Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 11 of 20 categories
Hesperia
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878
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.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Rent averages $422/mo less ($1,436 vs $1,858)
Homes cost $84k less ($337,600 vs $421,400)
Cons
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $14,939/yr
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 7.5%)
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Hesperia
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (7.5%)
Households earn $14,939 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 17.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 60°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$84k less
$337,600 vs $421,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 107.9 on the COL index
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$14,939
$82,637 vs $67,698/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
48% lower
272.5 vs 519.6 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
7.5% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, 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 | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 35.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 22.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% | 79.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% ✓ Higher | 63.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 27.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia'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 20 decided categories above, Moreno Valley leads 11 of 20 categories. Hesperia wins 9 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 Hesperia to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $421,400 median home), income ($67,698 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Moreno Valley, CA are about 33 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.