Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 12 of 23 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 ✓ Larger
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 25°F
Households earn $10,852 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Sioux Falls
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 2.3%)
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Rent averages $893/mo less ($965 vs $1,858)
Homes cost $171k less ($250,000 vs $421,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (2.3%)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (526.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $10,852/yr
Property crime (2915.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$10,852
$82,637 vs $71,785/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
48% lower
272.5 vs 526.7 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 84.8°F
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$171k less
$250,000 vs $421,400
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
2.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 193,401 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 12 of 23 categories. Moreno Valley wins 11 and Sioux Falls 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 Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $250,000 median home), income ($82,637 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,283 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.