Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Fresno
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Riverside
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($321,800 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $484/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Riverside by $20,447/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 6.1%)
Riverside, CA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Fresno
Households earn $20,447 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 55°F
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
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$164k less
$321,800 vs $485,500
Riverside
Median Income
$20,447
$83,448 vs $63,001/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
20% lower
589.7 vs 735.5 per 100k
Riverside
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 82.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 95.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 316,076 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 32.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Fresno wins 10 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 Fresno to Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $485,500 median home), income ($63,001 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Riverside, CA are about 239 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.