Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Houston leads 12 of 22 categories
Houston
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ 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.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($235,000 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $476/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,711)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $23,008/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Riverside, CA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $23,008 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 63°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
Houston
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$251k less
$235,000 vs $485,500
Riverside
Median Income
$23,008
$83,448 vs $60,440/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
49% lower
589.7 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Riverside
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 82.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 316,076 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Houston is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Houston leads 12 of 22 categories. Houston wins 12 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 Houston to Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $485,500 median home), income ($60,440 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Riverside, CA are about 1,320 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.