Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 11 of 20 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
San Bernardino
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ 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 San Bernardino
Households earn $21,314 more per year on average
More college-educated — 17.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Rent averages $539/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,858)
Homes cost $74k less ($347,100 vs $421,400)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 20.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $21,314/yr
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$21,314
$82,637 vs $61,323/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
70% lower
272.5 vs 897.1 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 107.9 on the COL index
San Bernardino
Median Home Value
$74k less
$347,100 vs $421,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High | $347,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 9.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Moreno Valley leads 11 of 20 categories. Moreno Valley wins 11 and San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $347,100 median home), income ($82,637 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and San Bernardino, CA are about 16 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.