Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 12 of 22 categories
Moreno Valley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1088k less ($421,400 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1113/mo less ($1,858 vs $2,971)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $66,515/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $66,515 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% less violent crime than Moreno Valley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Moreno Valley
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$1088k less
$421,400 vs $1,508,900
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
21.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$66,515
$149,152 vs $82,637/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
11% lower
243.2 vs 272.5 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 19.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 12 of 22 categories. Moreno Valley wins 10 and San Mateo 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 San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($82,637 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and San Mateo, CA are about 381 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.