Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Riverside
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Riverside
Households earn $29,731 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Riverside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $170k less ($485,500 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $272/mo less ($1,711 vs $1,983)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $29,731/yr
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$29,731
$113,179 vs $83,448/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
63% lower
219.1 vs 589.7 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Home Value
$170k less
$485,500 vs $655,700
Riverside
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $83,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 13 and Riverside wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $485,500 median home), income ($113,179 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Riverside, CA are about 2,249 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.