Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Philadelphia leads 12 of 23 categories
Moreno Valley
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $25,100 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 42°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $206k less ($215,500 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $608/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,858)
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $25,100/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 7.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$25,100
$82,637 vs $57,537/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
70% lower
272.5 vs 908.7 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 89.3°F
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$206k less
$215,500 vs $421,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,250 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 32.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 86.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Philadelphia leads 12 of 23 categories. Moreno Valley wins 11 and Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $215,500 median home), income ($82,637 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Philadelphia, PA are about 2,338 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.