Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Oakland leads 12 of 22 categories
Moreno Valley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578
Oakland
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Homes cost $462k less ($421,400 vs $883,800)
86% less violent crime than Oakland
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 60°F
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $11,752/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.8%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Oakland, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $11,752 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 94°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (7230.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
86% lower
272.5 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$462k less
$421,400 vs $883,800
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
22.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$11,752
$94,389 vs $82,637/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,849⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 31.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 85.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 22.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 14.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Oakland leads 12 of 22 categories. Moreno Valley wins 10 and Oakland 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $883,800 median home), income ($82,637 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Oakland, CA are about 387 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.