Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 15 of 23 categories
Moreno Valley
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578
Newark
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,177 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 39°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Newark, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $585/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,858)
Homes cost $109k less ($312,300 vs $421,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $36,177/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 7.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$36,177
$82,637 vs $46,460/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
53% lower
272.5 vs 581.2 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
7.5% vs 10.7% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 86.8°F
Newark
Median Home Value
$109k less
$312,300 vs $421,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 33.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 10.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Moreno Valley leads 15 of 23 categories. Moreno Valley wins 15 and Newark wins 8. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $312,300 median home), income ($82,637 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Newark, NJ are about 2,386 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.