Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Santa Rosa, 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 ✓ Larger
Santa Rosa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($421,400 vs $661,700)
20% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Rent averages $166/mo less ($1,858 vs $2,024)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 60°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $9,967/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,967 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Moreno Valley
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
20% lower
272.5 vs 342.6 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$240k less
$421,400 vs $661,700
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$9,967
$92,604 vs $82,637/yr
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (90) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 19.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 178,221 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Moreno Valley wins 11 and Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $661,700 median home), income ($82,637 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 438 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.