Moreno Valley CA vs Providence RI — 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%

Providence, RI

Rhode Island · Population: 190,214

  • Median HH Income$66,772
  • Median Home Price$429,449
  • Unemployment7.4%
  • Bachelor's+34.7%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Moreno Valley
210,378
Moreno Valley +
Providence
190,214
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Moreno Valley
N/A
Providence
N/A
Median Age
Moreno Valley
32.1
Moreno Valley +
Providence
32.9
Foreign Born
Moreno Valley
23.9%
Providence
32.8%
Providence +
White
Moreno Valley
22.4%
Providence
40.7%
Providence +
Black
Moreno Valley
17.6%
Moreno Valley +
Providence
13.3%
Asian
Moreno Valley
5.5%
Providence
5.9%
Providence +
Hispanic
Moreno Valley
59.7%
Moreno Valley +
Providence
44.3%
Spanish at Home
Moreno Valley
N/A
Providence
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Moreno Valley
$87,477
Moreno Valley +
Providence
$66,772
Per Capita Income
Moreno Valley
$28,255
Providence
$36,694
Providence +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Moreno Valley
$77,230
Moreno Valley +
Providence
$64,538
Unemployment Rate
Moreno Valley
7.4%
Moreno Valley +
Providence
7.4%
Poverty Rate
Moreno Valley
11.8%
Moreno Valley +
Providence
20.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
Moreno Valley
17.3%
Providence
34.7%
Providence +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Moreno Valley
$552,845
Providence
$429,449
Providence +
Homeownership Rate
Moreno Valley
62.8%
Moreno Valley +
Providence
41.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
503
Providence
174
Providence +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
2388
Providence
1303
Providence +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
39.6%
Providence
34.4%
Providence +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.6%
Providence
11.5%
Providence +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Moreno Valley
19.0%
Moreno Valley +
Providence
19.6%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
15.6%
Providence
14.6%
Providence +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
14.6%
Moreno Valley +
Providence
16.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.5%
Providence
12.1%
Providence +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
Providence
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
Providence
N/A

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Moreno Valley
36.9 min
Providence
27.4 min
Providence +

Which City is Right for You?

Moreno Valley leads in median household income at $87,477, while providence offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $429,449. On public safety, Providence is safer with a violent crime rate of 174 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Moreno Valley. Moreno Valley has a lower unemployment rate at 7.4%, and Providence has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Providence scores better with a lower obesity rate of 34.4%.

Compare More Cities

About Moreno Valley & Providence