Moreno Valley CA vs Scottsdale AZ — 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%

Scottsdale, AZ

Arizona · Population: 242,169

  • Median HH Income$107,372
  • Median Home Price$858,307
  • Unemployment3.4%
  • Bachelor's+61.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Moreno Valley
210,378
Scottsdale
242,169
Scottsdale +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Moreno Valley
N/A
Scottsdale
N/A
Median Age
Moreno Valley
32.1
Moreno Valley +
Scottsdale
49.2
Foreign Born
Moreno Valley
23.9%
Moreno Valley +
Scottsdale
11.2%
White
Moreno Valley
22.4%
Scottsdale
81.8%
Scottsdale +
Black
Moreno Valley
17.6%
Moreno Valley +
Scottsdale
2.0%
Asian
Moreno Valley
5.5%
Moreno Valley +
Scottsdale
5.1%
Hispanic
Moreno Valley
59.7%
Moreno Valley +
Scottsdale
9.4%
Spanish at Home
Moreno Valley
N/A
Scottsdale
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Moreno Valley
$87,477
Scottsdale
$107,372
Scottsdale +
Per Capita Income
Moreno Valley
$28,255
Scottsdale
$82,697
Scottsdale +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Moreno Valley
$77,230
Moreno Valley +
Scottsdale
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Moreno Valley
7.4%
Scottsdale
3.4%
Scottsdale +
Poverty Rate
Moreno Valley
11.8%
Scottsdale
7.1%
Scottsdale +
Bachelor's Degree+
Moreno Valley
17.3%
Scottsdale
61.5%
Scottsdale +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Moreno Valley
$552,845
Moreno Valley +
Scottsdale
$858,307
Homeownership Rate
Moreno Valley
62.8%
Scottsdale
67.6%
Scottsdale +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
503
Scottsdale
450
Scottsdale +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
2388
Scottsdale
2150
Scottsdale +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
39.6%
Scottsdale
26.2%
Scottsdale +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.6%
Scottsdale
9.4%
Scottsdale +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Moreno Valley
19.0%
Scottsdale
12.1%
Scottsdale +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
15.6%
Scottsdale
6.3%
Scottsdale +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
14.6%
Moreno Valley +
Scottsdale
15.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.5%
Scottsdale
7.4%
Scottsdale +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
Scottsdale
72.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
Scottsdale
10.3 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Moreno Valley
36.9 min
Scottsdale
23.2 min
Scottsdale +

Which City is Right for You?

Scottsdale leads in median household income at $107,372, while moreno Valley offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $552,845. On public safety, Scottsdale is safer with a violent crime rate of 450 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Moreno Valley. Scottsdale has a lower unemployment rate at 3.4%, and Scottsdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Scottsdale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Moreno Valley & Scottsdale