Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories
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
New Orleans
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
81% less violent crime than New Orleans
Households earn $31,521 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Cost of living runs 17% higher than New Orleans
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
New Orleans, LA
Pros
Rent averages $696/mo less ($1,162 vs $1,858)
Homes cost $140k less ($281,500 vs $421,400)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
More college-educated — 40.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $31,521/yr
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 7.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$31,521
$82,637 vs $51,116/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
81% lower
272.5 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 90.6°F
New Orleans
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
New Orleans
Median Home Value
$140k less
$281,500 vs $421,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High | $281,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,162 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 88.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 61.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
New Orleans is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Orleans leads 12 of 23 categories. Moreno Valley wins 11 and New Orleans wins 12. 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 Moreno Valley to New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $281,500 median home), income ($82,637 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and New Orleans, LA are about 1,615 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.