Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Worcester leads 13 of 21 categories
Moreno Valley
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Worcester
Massachusetts
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,626 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 32°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.6%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Worcester, MA
Pros
94% less violent crime than Moreno Valley
Rent averages $546/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,858)
Homes cost $116k less ($305,600 vs $421,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.6%)
Cons
Median income trails Moreno Valley by $19,626/yr
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Median Income
$19,626
$82,637 vs $63,011/yr
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
14.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Worcester
Violent Crime
94% lower
16.5 vs 272.5 per 100k
Worcester
Median Home Value
$116k less
$305,600 vs $421,400
Worcester
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 103.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High | $305,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 85.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 204,191 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Worcester is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Worcester leads 13 of 21 categories. Moreno Valley wins 8 and Worcester wins 13. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $305,600 median home), income ($82,637 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Worcester, MA are about 2,504 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.