Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Moreno Valley
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578
San Jose
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Homes cost $728k less ($421,400 vs $1,149,600)
55% less violent crime than San Jose
Rent averages $668/mo less ($1,858 vs $2,526)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 59°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $53,373/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,373 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
55% lower
272.5 vs 606.8 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$728k less
$421,400 vs $1,149,600
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$53,373
$136,010 vs $82,637/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 28.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 85.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 18.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Moreno Valley wins 11 and San Jose wins 11. 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 Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($82,637 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and San Jose, CA are about 348 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.