Riverside receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Moreno Valley
Riverside
Opportunity
43 · Bottom 22%
vs51 · Bottom 40%
Growth
41 · Bottom 35%
vs57 · Top 37%
Climate
90 · Top 7%
vs90 · Top 7%
Physical resilience
4 · Bottom 1%
vs4 · Bottom 1%
Housing affordability
54 · Bottom 18%
vs53 · Bottom 17%
Access
99 · Top 20%
vs97 · Top 29%
Economic stability
62 · Top 46%
vs59 · Bottom 46%
Measured values
| Metric | Moreno Valley | Riverside | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 211,666 | 319,069 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $93,222 | $91,045 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,872 | $34,896 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,125/sq mi | 3,932/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $503,700 | $584,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,135 | $1,914 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.3% | 56.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.6% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -1.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 25.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 12.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 287 | 596 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.4 | 1.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -18.2% | 105.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 44°F | 44°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 9.4" | 9.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 12 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 37.2 min | 33.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.5 | 33.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Moreno Valley
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, inland flooding, earthquake.
Riverside
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, inland flooding, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Moreno Valley
56
Your Score
50
Area Score
Riverside
59
Your Score
54
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Moreno Valley, CA · Riverside, CA · How this is calculated: methodology