Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Lowell leads 12 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Moreno Valley
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Rent averages $392/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,858)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Homes cost $59k less ($362,800 vs $421,400)
More college-educated — 28.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $9,629/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Lowell
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 34°F
Households earn $9,629 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.7%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Home Value
$59k less
$362,800 vs $421,400
Lowell
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$9,629
$82,637 vs $73,008/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
49% lower
272.5 vs 532.5 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lowell leads 12 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 12 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 Lowell to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $421,400 median home), income ($73,008 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Moreno Valley, CA are about 2,528 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.