Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Rochester 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
Rochester
New York
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,481 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Rochester
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 33°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (7.5%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Rochester
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($111,400 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $863/mo less ($995 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $38,481/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 7.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$38,481
$82,637 vs $44,156/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
53% lower
272.5 vs 582.3 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$310k less
$111,400 vs $421,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 83.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 35.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rochester leads 12 of 23 categories. Moreno Valley wins 11 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $111,400 median home), income ($82,637 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Rochester, NY are about 2,210 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.