Moreno Valley CA vs Sparks NV — 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%

Sparks, NV

Nevada · Population: N/A

  • Median HH IncomeN/A
  • Median Home Price$530,668
  • UnemploymentN/A
  • Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Moreno Valley
210,378
Sparks
N/A
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Moreno Valley
N/A
Sparks
N/A
Median Age
Moreno Valley
32.1
Sparks
N/A
Foreign Born
Moreno Valley
23.9%
Sparks
N/A
White
Moreno Valley
22.4%
Sparks
N/A
Black
Moreno Valley
17.6%
Sparks
N/A
Asian
Moreno Valley
5.5%
Sparks
N/A
Hispanic
Moreno Valley
59.7%
Sparks
N/A
Spanish at Home
Moreno Valley
N/A
Sparks
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Moreno Valley
$87,477
Sparks
N/A
Per Capita Income
Moreno Valley
$28,255
Sparks
N/A
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Moreno Valley
$77,230
Moreno Valley +
Sparks
$62,696
Unemployment Rate
Moreno Valley
7.4%
Sparks
N/A
Poverty Rate
Moreno Valley
11.8%
Sparks
N/A
Bachelor's Degree+
Moreno Valley
17.3%
Sparks
N/A

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Moreno Valley
$552,845
Sparks
$530,668
Sparks +
Homeownership Rate
Moreno Valley
62.8%
Sparks
N/A

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
503
Sparks
460
Sparks +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
2388
Moreno Valley +
Sparks
2417

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
39.6%
Sparks
28.6%
Sparks +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.6%
Sparks
9.8%
Sparks +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Moreno Valley
19.0%
Sparks
18.1%
Sparks +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
15.6%
Sparks
13.8%
Sparks +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
14.6%
Moreno Valley +
Sparks
18.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.5%
Moreno Valley +
Sparks
12.9%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
Sparks
52.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
Sparks
8.3 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Moreno Valley
36.9 min
Sparks
N/A

Which City is Right for You?

Sparks offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $530,668. On public safety, Sparks is safer with a violent crime rate of 460 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Moreno Valley. Sparks has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 5.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Sparks scores better with a lower obesity rate of 28.6%.

Compare More Cities

About Moreno Valley & Sparks