Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange leads 13 of 22 categories
Moreno Valley
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Orange
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Homes cost $427k less ($421,400 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $290/mo less ($1,858 vs $2,148)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Smaller class sizes — 22.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $26,698/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,698 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Moreno Valley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Moreno Valley
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$427k less
$421,400 vs $848,200
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$26,698
$109,335 vs $82,637/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
17% lower
226.1 vs 272.5 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 138,728 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 58.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orange leads 13 of 22 categories. Moreno Valley wins 9 and Orange wins 13. 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $848,200 median home), income ($82,637 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Orange, CA are about 39 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.