Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Edinburg leads 14 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Riverside
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $326k less ($159,600 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $791/mo less ($920 vs $1,711)
54% less violent crime than Riverside
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $29,309/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.1%)
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,309 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
54% lower
269.6 vs 589.7 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$326k less
$159,600 vs $485,500
Riverside
Median Income
$29,309
$83,448 vs $54,139/yr
Riverside
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 82.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 69.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 95.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 32.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 14 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 14 and Riverside wins 9. 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 Edinburg to Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $485,500 median home), income ($54,139 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Riverside, CA are about 1,261 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.