Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Moreno Valley
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 94°F
Rent averages $116/mo less ($1,742 vs $1,858)
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $4,329 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Kent
Homes cost $57k less ($421,400 vs $478,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 48°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Cons
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Median income trails Kent by $4,329/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$4,329
$86,966 vs $82,637/yr
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
44% lower
272.5 vs 489.7 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$57k less
$421,400 vs $478,400
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $82,637 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Moreno Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Kent wins 10 and Moreno Valley wins 13. 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 Kent to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $421,400 median home), income ($86,966 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Moreno Valley, CA are about 966 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.