Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Sacramento leads 12 of 22 categories
Moreno Valley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578
Sacramento
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
64% less violent crime than Sacramento
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 57°F
Homes cost $29k less ($421,400 vs $450,500)
Households earn $3,683 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.3%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.3%)
Rent averages $266/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,858)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $3,683/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$3,683
$82,637 vs $78,954/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
64% lower
272.5 vs 754.9 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$29k less
$421,400 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 12 of 22 categories. Moreno Valley wins 10 and Sacramento 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $450,500 median home), income ($82,637 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Sacramento, CA are about 399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.