Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Springfield 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
Springfield
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,187 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Springfield
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 43°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Springfield
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.8%)
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($146,400 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $980/mo less ($878 vs $1,858)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.8%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Moreno Valley
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $39,187/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$39,187
$82,637 vs $43,450/yr
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
77% lower
272.5 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$275k less
$146,400 vs $421,400
Springfield
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 33.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Moreno Valley wins 11 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $146,400 median home), income ($82,637 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Springfield, MO are about 1,359 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.