Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Lafayette leads 12 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $836/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,858)
Homes cost $187k less ($234,900 vs $421,400)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.1%)
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $23,787/yr
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
74% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $23,787 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Lafayette
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$187k less
$234,900 vs $421,400
Lafayette
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$23,787
$82,637 vs $58,850/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
74% lower
272.5 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 12 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 12 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 Lafayette to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $421,400 median home), income ($58,850 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Moreno Valley, CA are about 1,493 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.