Below Average CostSafer than AverageHighland Comm School District
Riverside, Iowa · Farragutful / CC BY-SA 3.0Riverside, IA from the southeast · Jfurlong / CC BY-SA 3.0Future Birthplace of Captain James T Kirk · Marshall Astor / CC BY-SA 2.0The Voyage Home Museum · Dyeyell Finney / CC BY-SA 4.0
Riverside is a small town of 1,090 in Iowa, with a median household income of $79,265
and a 4.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Riverside stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 91.8
Riverside's overall cost of living index is 91.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Riverside costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Riverside, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$189,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$743
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$79,265
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Riverside's violent crime rate is 259.5 per 100,000 residents
— 32% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
259.5 /100k
Property Crime
1028.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Riverside is served primarily by Highland Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Riverside, IA
National Avg
School District
Highland Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Riverside sees average highs of 29.3°F in January
and 84.4°F in July,
with 38.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 27.5 inches of snow per year.
Riverside's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Riverside roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $189,200 and median rent is $743/month.
Riverside's violent crime rate is 259.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1028.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Riverside are operated by Highland Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.2:1. 28.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Riverside, IA has a population of 1,090, a median household income of $79,265, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%.
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 29.3°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.5 inches
with about 27.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Riverside, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52327.
The population of Riverside, Iowa is 1,090 with a median age of 41.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Riverside: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $189,200, median household income $79,265, crime index 61 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. 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.
