Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 12 of 22 categories
Moreno Valley
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Palmdale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Palmdale
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 60°F
Households earn $4,223 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Rent averages $233/mo less ($1,625 vs $1,858)
Homes cost $24k less ($397,500 vs $421,400)
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Longer commutes — 41.3 min average each way
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 Income
$4,223
$82,637 vs $78,414/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
51% lower
272.5 vs 551.0 per 100k
Palmdale
Median Home Value
$24k less
$397,500 vs $421,400
Palmdale
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 94.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 7.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ 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- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 10.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Moreno Valley leads 12 of 22 categories. Moreno Valley wins 12 and Palmdale wins 10. 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $397,500 median home), income ($82,637 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Palmdale, CA are about 69 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.