Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Moreno Valley leads 15 of 22 categories
Moreno Valley
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
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 South Gate
Homes cost $158k less ($421,400 vs $578,900)
Households earn $15,449 more per year on average
More college-educated — 17.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
South Gate, CA
Pros
Rent averages $458/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $15,449/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$15,449
$82,637 vs $67,188/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
48% lower
272.5 vs 525.6 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$158k less
$421,400 vs $578,900
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 32.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 6.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 14.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 24.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Moreno Valley is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Moreno Valley leads 15 of 22 categories. Moreno Valley wins 15 and South Gate wins 7. 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 Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $578,900 median home), income ($82,637 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and South Gate, CA are about 57 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.