Moreno Valley CA vs Stockton CA — 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%

Stockton, CA

California · Population: 320,470

  • Median HH Income$76,851
  • Median Home Price$431,297
  • Unemployment8.0%
  • Bachelor's+19.1%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Moreno Valley
210,378
Stockton
320,470
Stockton +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Moreno Valley
N/A
Stockton
N/A
Median Age
Moreno Valley
32.1
Moreno Valley +
Stockton
33.7
Foreign Born
Moreno Valley
23.9%
Stockton
25.9%
Stockton +
White
Moreno Valley
22.4%
Stockton
26.6%
Stockton +
Black
Moreno Valley
17.6%
Moreno Valley +
Stockton
11.6%
Asian
Moreno Valley
5.5%
Stockton
21.1%
Stockton +
Hispanic
Moreno Valley
59.7%
Moreno Valley +
Stockton
45.2%
Spanish at Home
Moreno Valley
N/A
Stockton
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Moreno Valley
$87,477
Moreno Valley +
Stockton
$76,851
Per Capita Income
Moreno Valley
$28,255
Stockton
$31,279
Stockton +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Moreno Valley
$77,230
Stockton
$77,230
Tie
Unemployment Rate
Moreno Valley
7.4%
Moreno Valley +
Stockton
8.0%
Poverty Rate
Moreno Valley
11.8%
Moreno Valley +
Stockton
15.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
Moreno Valley
17.3%
Stockton
19.1%
Stockton +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Moreno Valley
$552,845
Stockton
$431,297
Stockton +
Homeownership Rate
Moreno Valley
62.8%
Moreno Valley +
Stockton
53.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
503
Stockton
503
Tie
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Moreno Valley
2388
Stockton
2388
Tie

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
39.6%
Stockton
31.8%
Stockton +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.6%
Moreno Valley +
Stockton
13.5%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Moreno Valley
19.0%
Stockton
18.1%
Stockton +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
15.6%
Stockton
15.0%
Stockton +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
14.6%
Stockton
13.3%
Stockton +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.5%
Moreno Valley +
Stockton
13.8%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
Stockton
62.2°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
Stockton
17.8 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Moreno Valley
36.9 min
Stockton
33.2 min
Stockton +

Which City is Right for You?

Moreno Valley leads in median household income at $87,477, while stockton offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $431,297. On public safety, Stockton is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Moreno Valley. Moreno Valley has a lower unemployment rate at 7.4%, and Stockton has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Stockton scores better with a lower obesity rate of 31.8%.

Compare More Cities

About Moreno Valley & Stockton