Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Oxnard, CA
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 14 of 22 categories
Moreno Valley
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Oxnard
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,409 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
202,279
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Oxnard
Homes cost $166k less ($421,400 vs $587,200)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Oxnard
Cons
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.9%)
Median income trails Oxnard by $7,772/yr
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Oxnard, CA
Pros
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 94°F
Households earn $7,772 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $587,200
Violent crime (596.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Moreno Valley
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
54% lower
272.5 vs 596.4 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$166k less
$421,400 vs $587,200
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
21.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 72.9°F
Oxnard
Median Income
$7,772
$90,409 vs $82,637/yr
Oxnard
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Oxnard, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $587,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,907⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 | $90,409 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% ✓ Higher | 5.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) ✓ Better | C- (68) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 19.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Oxnard |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F | 65.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 12.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 202,279 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 54.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 26.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 10.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Oxnard's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Moreno Valley leads 14 of 22 categories. Moreno Valley wins 14 and Oxnard 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 Oxnard or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $587,200 median home), income ($82,637 vs $90,409), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Oxnard, CA are about 116 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.