Moreno Valley CA vs Visalia 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%

Visalia, CA

California · Population: 135,983

  • Median HH Income$70,663
  • Median Home Price$397,983
  • Unemployment11.6%
  • Bachelor's+12.4%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Moreno Valley
210,378
Moreno Valley +
Visalia
135,983
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Moreno Valley
N/A
Visalia
N/A
Median Age
Moreno Valley
32.1
Visalia
32.0
Visalia +
Foreign Born
Moreno Valley
23.9%
Moreno Valley +
Visalia
20.1%
White
Moreno Valley
22.4%
Visalia
36.5%
Visalia +
Black
Moreno Valley
17.6%
Moreno Valley +
Visalia
17.1%
Asian
Moreno Valley
5.5%
Moreno Valley +
Visalia
4.4%
Hispanic
Moreno Valley
59.7%
Moreno Valley +
Visalia
55.3%
Spanish at Home
Moreno Valley
N/A
Visalia
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Moreno Valley
$87,477
Moreno Valley +
Visalia
$70,663
Per Capita Income
Moreno Valley
$28,255
Moreno Valley +
Visalia
$26,955
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Moreno Valley
$77,230
Visalia
$77,230
Tie
Unemployment Rate
Moreno Valley
7.4%
Moreno Valley +
Visalia
11.6%
Poverty Rate
Moreno Valley
11.8%
Moreno Valley +
Visalia
20.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
Moreno Valley
17.3%
Moreno Valley +
Visalia
12.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Moreno Valley
$552,845
Visalia
$397,983
Visalia +
Homeownership Rate
Moreno Valley
62.8%
Moreno Valley +
Visalia
58.5%

Safety

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

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
39.6%
Visalia
32.2%
Visalia +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.6%
Visalia
11.2%
Visalia +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Moreno Valley
19.0%
Visalia
17.9%
Visalia +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
15.6%
Visalia
13.0%
Visalia +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
14.6%
Moreno Valley +
Visalia
16.8%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Moreno Valley
12.5%
Visalia
12.0%
Visalia +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
Visalia
63.3°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Moreno Valley
N/A
Visalia
10.9 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Moreno Valley
36.9 min
Moreno Valley +
Visalia
41.6 min

Which City is Right for You?

Moreno Valley leads in median household income at $87,477, while visalia offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $397,983. On public safety, Visalia 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 Visalia has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Visalia scores better with a lower obesity rate of 32.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Moreno Valley & Visalia