Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Moreno Valley to Los Angeles
The 2024 ACS 5-year data shows Moreno Valley has higher median income ($93,222 vs $81,939) and lower median gross rent ($2,135 vs $1,933) than Los Angeles, but significantly higher home values ($503,700 vs $921,200) and a longer commute (38 vs 33 minutes). Los Angeles benefits from a simplified state income tax reference of 9.30% in the model, while Moreno Valley excludes state tax due to lack of approved reference. The uniform non-housing baseline of $1,250/month applies equally. Trade-offs involve Moreno Valley’s income advantage offset by higher housing costs and commute time, versus Los Angeles’s lower income but shorter commute and modeled tax inclusion, with no universal winner due to differing household priorities.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → Moreno ValleyMoving from Moreno Valley to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
-$202/mo
Moving to Los Angeles saves ~$2,424/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
-5 min / day
Difference of ~42 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTMOR → LAX
57/ 100
A close, nuanced move
Your modeled annual room improves.Estimated annual life delta+$4,392after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Los Angeles is about $2,424 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Moreno Valley household income$93,222
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Moreno Valley gross rent$2,135
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Moreno Valley | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 211,666 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $93,222 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $2,135 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $503,700 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 38 minutes in Moreno Valley and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median household income
- Median gross rent
- Median owner-occupied home value
- One-way commute time
- State income tax treatment in model
- Uniform non-housing cost baseline
What each city wins
Moreno Valley
Rent-to-income ratio is 27.5%, below typical burden threshold.. Watch affordability varies by neighborhood; citywide data masks local disparities..
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
Which city has a higher median household income according to the 2024 ACS?
Moreno Valley has a higher median household income at $93,222 compared to Los Angeles at $81,939, based on the 2024 ACS 5-year estimates from Table B19013.
How does the modeled state income tax differ between the two cities?
Los Angeles uses a simplified state individual income-tax reference of 9.30% in the calculator, while Moreno Valley deliberately excludes state tax due to lack of an approved official reference for automatic profiling.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.