Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Pomona, CA
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 13 of 22 categories
Moreno Valley
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Pomona
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,515
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
149,831
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Pomona
Homes cost $103k less ($421,400 vs $524,700)
Households earn $9,122 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Pomona
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.5%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Pomona, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.5%)
Rent averages $227/mo less ($1,631 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (715.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $524,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2753.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
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
$9,122
$82,637 vs $73,515/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
62% lower
272.5 vs 715.9 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$103k less
$421,400 vs $524,700
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 90.3°F
Pomona
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Pomona, 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 | $524,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,631⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $73,515 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 32.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 18.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% ✓ Higher | 72.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Pomona Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 14.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 149,831 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 24.3% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Pomona's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Moreno Valley leads 13 of 22 categories. Moreno Valley wins 13 and Pomona wins 9. 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 Pomona or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $524,700 median home), income ($82,637 vs $73,515), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Pomona, CA are about 33 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.