What it's like to live in Riverside
Riverside is a large city in California with household incomes running above the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Riverside deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
How Riverside compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Riverside
Based on Riverside's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,828
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $76,560 a year
- 56% of Riverside renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$116,960
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $58,480
- Homes cost 6.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 35% above US
$1,914/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $1,914 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $584,800. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $584,800 · 56% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 14% above US
4.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 63% above US
535 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2180/100k · Riverside Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 20% above US
31 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 31.3 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 94°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 43°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
4 hospitals
There are 4 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 29% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
79 public schools inside the boundary
There are 79 public schools inside the boundary and 17 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (11 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Riverside's strongest point is household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,914/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Riverside
All California guides →Moving to Woodcrest →
4 mi away · pop. 17,368
Rent $2,909/mo · Income $153,731
Compare with Riverside →Moving to El Sobrante CDP (Riverside County) →
6 mi away · pop. 13,129
Rent $2,880/mo · Income $165,682
Compare with Riverside →Moving to Jurupa Valley →
6 mi away · pop. 107,011
Rent $1,741/mo · Income $97,550
Compare with Riverside →Moving to Grand Terrace →
8 mi away · pop. 13,078
Rent $2,024/mo · Income $83,628
Compare with Riverside →Not sure Riverside is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.