Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 12 of 21 categories
Moreno Valley
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
113,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
14% less violent crime than Odessa
Households earn $11,344 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 57°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Odessa
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.1%)
Odessa, TX
Pros
Homes cost $228k less ($193,500 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $576/mo less ($1,282 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $11,344/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$11,344
$82,637 vs $71,293/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
14% lower
272.5 vs 316.3 per 100k
Odessa
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Median Home Value
$228k less
$193,500 vs $421,400
Odessa
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,282 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 81.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 94.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 12.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 31.8 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 59.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 9.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Moreno Valley leads 12 of 21 categories. Moreno Valley wins 12 and Odessa wins 9. 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 Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $193,500 median home), income ($82,637 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Odessa, TX are about 873 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.