Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Antioch, CA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Riverside leads 14 of 22 categories
Antioch
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,709 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
115,016
Riverside
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Antioch, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,261 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 21.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Pricier housing — median home is $570,900
Riverside, CA
Pros
Rent averages $439/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.1%)
Homes cost $85k less ($485,500 vs $570,900)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Antioch
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 56°F
Cons
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
Median income trails Antioch by $7,261/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Antioch
Median Income
$7,261
$90,709 vs $83,448/yr
Riverside
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Violent Crime
3% lower
589.7 vs 606.8 per 100k
Riverside
Median Home Value
$85k less
$485,500 vs $570,900
Riverside
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.9% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 91.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Antioch, CA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $570,900⚠ High | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,709 ✓ Higher | $83,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 44.9 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 152⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Antioch Unified | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.6" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 115,016 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.5% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Antioch's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Riverside leads 14 of 22 categories. Antioch wins 8 and Riverside wins 14. 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 Antioch to Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($570,900 vs $485,500 median home), income ($90,709 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Antioch, CA and Riverside, CA are about 372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.