Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 15 of 23 categories
Moreno Valley
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578
Phoenix
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $10,545 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 104°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.2%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $536/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,858)
Homes cost $81k less ($340,200 vs $421,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $10,545/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$10,545
$82,637 vs $72,092/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
66% lower
272.5 vs 799.6 per 100k
Phoenix
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$81k less
$340,200 vs $421,400
Phoenix
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Phoenix
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 94.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 65.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 11.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 15 of 23 categories. Moreno Valley wins 8 and Phoenix wins 15. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $340,200 median home), income ($82,637 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Phoenix, AZ are about 295 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.