Riverside is a small town of 2,409 in Alabama, with a median household income of $70,208
and a 5.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Riverside stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Riverside is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Riverside city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.6
Riverside's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Riverside costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Riverside, AL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$231,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,065
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$70,208
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Riverside's violent crime rate is 263.3 per 100,000 residents
— 31% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
263.3 /100k
Property Crime
1009.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Riverside, AL
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
18.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
80.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Riverside sees average highs of 54.1°F in January
and 90.0°F in July,
with 57.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.9 inches of snow per year.
Riverside's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Riverside roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $231,500 and median rent is $1,065/month.
Riverside's violent crime rate is 263.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1009.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Riverside, AL has a population of 2,409, a median household income of $70,208, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Riverside averages 54.1°F in January and 90.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.2 inches
with about 0.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Riverside, AL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 35135.
The population of Riverside, Alabama is 2,409 with a median age of 42.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Riverside: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $231,500, median household income $70,208, crime index 61 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Riverside side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
