Moving from Moreno Valley, CA to Plano, TX

The drive from Moreno Valley, CA to Plano, TX runs 1390 mi β€” about 23h 57m on interstate, longer with stops. Long-range relocations typically bring real shifts in cost of living, housing prices, climate, and job market. Below, each of those layers is pulled from its source (BEA, Census, Zillow, BLS, NOAA) for a direct comparison.

1390 mi Β· 23h 57m by car Β· TX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA

COL -3.1% Home values -9.5% Ξ” +2.5Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1390 mi
Drive time
23h 57m
States
4
Fuel (25 mpg)
56 gal
Route throughTX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA
Primary highwaysI 10, I 20, US 95
Major cities en routeGarland, Frisco, Mckinney, Mesquite, Richardson

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

Moreno ValleyPlanoU.S. avg
All items (RPP)106.442103.09100.0
Rents148.64190.711100.0
Goods101.431102.838100.0
Services129.312117.874100.0

Plano and Moreno Valley are close on the overall BEA RPP (106.442 vs 103.09); rent and services often drive the real difference.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Moreno Valley β€” typical home
$551,284
Plano β€” typical home
$498,989
Moreno Valley β€” typical rent
$2,361/mo
Plano β€” typical rent
$1,696/mo

Zillow typical home value is 3.1% lower in Plano than Moreno Valley as of 2026-03.

YoY change: Moreno Valley -1.5%, Plano -5.3%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsMoreno ValleyPlano
Annual avg temperature63Β°F66Β°F
January avg low37Β°F36Β°F
July avg high94Β°F94Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”β€”
Annual precipitation10.7"41.9"

Climate is roughly comparable on the annual mean β€” 63.3Β°F vs 65.8Β°F per NOAA 1991–2020 normals.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: MARCH AFB, CA US, RICHARDSON, TX US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023Moreno ValleyPlano
Population210,378287,339
Median household income$87,477$108,649
Median age32.139.3
Bachelor's degree or higher12.1%35.1%
Avg household size3.842.6

Income gap is large: median household income climbs 3.1% between Moreno Valley and Plano (ACS 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Moreno Valley MSA β€” median wage
$47,450
Plano MSA β€” median wage
$48,440
Moreno Valley MSA β€” employment
1,661,860
Plano MSA β€” employment
3,966,500

Top occupations in Plano MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 523,660 $44,430
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 412,270 $39,950
Sales and Related Occupations 368,400 $36,710
Management Occupations 350,940 $117,410
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 341,240 $29,000

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Texas

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Texas income tax
no state income tax

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Texas's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.
  • I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Air conditioning matters: July highs in Plano average 94Β°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
  • Coastal Texas sees hurricanes June through November; inland areas face severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes in spring.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Texas after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

How much do homes cost in Plano compared to Moreno Valley?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $498,989 in Plano vs $551,284 in Moreno Valley β€” a 9.5% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

How does the job market in Plano compare to Moreno Valley?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $48,440 in the Plano MSA vs $47,450 in the Moreno Valley MSA, on total employment of 3,966,500 and 1,661,860 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How does household income compare in Moreno Valley vs Plano?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $108,649 in Plano vs $87,477 in Moreno Valley β€” a 24.2% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

Is Plano more expensive than Moreno Valley?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Plano is 3.1% lower than Moreno Valley (103.09 vs 106.442, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

When is the best time to move from Moreno Valley to Plano?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1390 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How far is Plano, TX from Moreno Valley, CA?

The driving distance is 1390 mi and the route typically takes 23h 57m via I 10 and I 20. The trip crosses 4 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Moreno Valley.

City profiles: Moreno Valley, CA Β· Plano, TX.

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