Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend 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
South Bend
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,581 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than South Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than South Bend
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.5%)
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $308k less ($113,800 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $923/mo less ($935 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.5%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
More college-educated — 28.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $33,581/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$33,581
$82,637 vs $49,056/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
72% lower
272.5 vs 965.0 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$308k less
$113,800 vs $421,400
South Bend
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 26.9% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 12 of 23 categories. Moreno Valley wins 11 and South Bend 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $113,800 median home), income ($82,637 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and South Bend, IN are about 1,761 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.