Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hesperia, CA
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Hesperia leads 13 of 20 categories
Hesperia
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,878
Rialto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hesperia, CA
Pros
19% less violent crime than Rialto
Homes cost $81k less ($337,600 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $117/mo less ($1,436 vs $1,553)
Cons
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Rialto by $13,052/yr
Longer commutes — 42.4 min average each way
Rialto, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,052 more per year on average
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (9.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 60°F
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Hesperia
Violent Crime
19% lower
519.6 vs 641.7 per 100k
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$81k less
$337,600 vs $418,300
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 107.9 on the COL index
Rialto
Median Income
$13,052
$80,750 vs $67,698/yr
Rialto
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
9.3% vs 9.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hesperia, CA | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,698 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.8%⚠ High | 9.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 42.4 min⚠ High | 33.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.9% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.0% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hesperia Unified | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer | 94.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.1" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,878 | 103,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.5% ✓ Higher | 62.9% |
| Under 18 | 29.3% ✓ More | 27.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hesperia's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Hesperia leads 13 of 20 categories. Hesperia wins 13 and Rialto wins 7. 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 Hesperia to Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($337,600 vs $418,300 median home), income ($67,698 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hesperia, CA and Rialto, CA are about 20 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.