Moreno Valley CA vs New Orleans LA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Moreno Valley, CA

California · Population: 210,378

  • Median HH Income$87,477
  • Median Home Price$552,845
  • Unemployment7.4%
  • Bachelor's+17.3%

New Orleans, LA

Louisiana · Population: 376,035

  • Median HH Income$55,339
  • Median Home Price$245,988
  • Unemployment7.8%
  • Bachelor's+41.9%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Moreno Valley
210,378
New Orleans
376,035
New Orleans +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Moreno Valley
N/A
New Orleans
N/A
Median Age
Moreno Valley
32.1
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
38.4
Foreign Born
Moreno Valley
23.9%
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
6.6%
White
Moreno Valley
22.4%
New Orleans
31.6%
New Orleans +
Black
Moreno Valley
17.6%
New Orleans
55.2%
New Orleans +
Asian
Moreno Valley
5.5%
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
2.8%
Hispanic
Moreno Valley
59.7%
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
7.9%
Spanish at Home
Moreno Valley
N/A
New Orleans
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Moreno Valley
$87,477
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
$55,339
Per Capita Income
Moreno Valley
$28,255
New Orleans
$39,698
New Orleans +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Moreno Valley
$77,230
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
$55,297
Unemployment Rate
Moreno Valley
7.4%
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
7.8%
Poverty Rate
Moreno Valley
11.8%
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
22.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
Moreno Valley
17.3%
New Orleans
41.9%
New Orleans +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Moreno Valley
$552,845
New Orleans
$245,988
New Orleans +
Homeownership Rate
Moreno Valley
62.8%
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
50.5%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
503
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
643
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
2388
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
2824

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
39.6%
New Orleans
34.0%
New Orleans +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.6%
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
15.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Moreno Valley
19.0%
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
19.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
15.6%
New Orleans
8.7%
New Orleans +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
14.6%
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
19.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.5%
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
15.5%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
New Orleans
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
New Orleans
66.6 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
7.9 µg/m³
Moreno Valley +
New Orleans
8.9 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Moreno Valley
75.0%
New Orleans
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Moreno Valley
36.9 min
New Orleans
24.6 min
New Orleans +

Which City is Right for You?

Moreno Valley leads in median household income at $87,477, while new Orleans offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $245,988. On public safety, Moreno Valley is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 643 in New Orleans. Moreno Valley has a lower unemployment rate at 7.4%, and Moreno Valley has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, New Orleans scores better with a lower obesity rate of 34.0%.

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About Moreno Valley & New Orleans