What are the schools like in Riverdale, IL?

Riverdale is served primarily by Dolton SD 148. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.7:1.

What is the median household income in Riverdale?

The median household income in Riverdale, IL is $41,144 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 16.3%.

What is the weather like in Riverdale, IL?

Riverdale has an average high temperature of 32.8°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 38.8 inches.

Riverdale, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Riverdale, IL affordable or expensive?

Riverdale's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Riverdale is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $97,700 and the median rent is $1,238 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Riverdale, IL?

Riverdale has a violent crime rate of 709.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2857.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Riverdale, IL a Good Place to Live?

Riverdale is a small city of 10,528 in Illinois, with a median household income of $41,144 and a 16.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Riverdale stands out for below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Riverdale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Riverdale 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: 102.6

Riverdale's overall cost of living index is 102.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Riverdale costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Riverdale, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$97,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,238	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	49.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$41,144	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Riverdale's violent crime rate is 709.4 per 100,000 residents — 87% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

709.4 /100k

Property Crime

2857.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Riverdale is served primarily by Dolton SD 148. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Riverdale, IL	National Avg
School District	Dolton SD 148	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Riverdale sees average highs of 32.8°F in January and 85.2°F in July, with 41.5 inches of annual precipitation and 38.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Riverdale, IL
Average High — January	32.8°F
Average High — July	85.2°F
Annual Precipitation	41.5"
Annual Snowfall	38.8"

Demographics

Metric	Riverdale, IL	National Avg
Population	10,528	—
Median Age	32.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	16.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	33.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	5.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	87.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.1%	6.3%
Under 18	29.7%	22.2%
65 and over	10.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dixmoor, IL 2 mi Calumet Park, IL 2 mi Phoenix, IL 2 mi Dolton, IL 2 mi Blue Island, IL 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Riverdale

Riverdale, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

60827

Riverdale vs Other Cities

Riverdale, IL vs Dixmoor, IL Riverdale, IL vs Calumet Park, IL Riverdale, IL vs Phoenix, IL Riverdale, IL vs Dolton, IL Riverdale, IL vs Blue Island, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Riverdale, IL affordable or expensive?

Riverdale's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Riverdale roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $97,700 and median rent is $1,238/month.

What is the crime rate in Riverdale, IL?

Riverdale's violent crime rate is 709.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2857.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Riverdale?

Public schools in Riverdale are operated by Dolton SD 148. The district has 6 elementary, 3 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.7:1. 16.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Riverdale, IL a good place to live?

Riverdale, IL has a population of 10,528, a median household income of $41,144, and an unemployment rate of 16.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Riverdale?

Riverdale averages 32.8°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.5 inches with about 38.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Riverdale?

Riverdale, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 60827.

What is the population of Riverdale?

The population of Riverdale, Illinois is 10,528 with a median age of 32.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Riverdale?

Key numbers for living in Riverdale: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $97,700, median household income $41,144, crime index 166 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Riverdale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.