Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 18 of 23 categories
Moreno Valley
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
209,578
Virginia Beach
Virginia
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Virginia Beach
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Moreno Valley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Homes cost $78k less ($343,700 vs $421,400)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$4,907
$87,544 vs $82,637/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
66% lower
92.3 vs 272.5 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$78k less
$343,700 vs $421,400
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,568⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 18 of 23 categories. Moreno Valley wins 5 and Virginia Beach wins 18. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $343,700 median home), income ($82,637 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.