Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Memphis
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($139,600 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $808/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $34,547/yr
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 7.5%)
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
89% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $34,547 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Memphis
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$282k less
$139,600 vs $421,400
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$34,547
$82,637 vs $48,090/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
89% lower
272.5 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $82,637 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 209,578 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 63.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Memphis 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 Memphis to Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $421,400 median home), income ($48,090 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Moreno Valley, CA are about 1,548 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.