Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indio, CA
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Indio leads 12 of 21 categories
Indio
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
89,616
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.
Indio, CA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Riverside
Homes cost $112k less ($373,200 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $367/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $15,012/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 6.1%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,012 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 106°F
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Indio
Violent Crime
43% lower
336.2 vs 589.7 per 100k
Indio
Median Home Value
$112k less
$373,200 vs $485,500
Indio
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 95.3°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 107.9 on the COL index
Riverside
Median Income
$15,012
$83,448 vs $68,436/yr
Riverside
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indio, CA | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $373,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,436 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 8.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 23.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.4% | 82.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Desert Sands Unified | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer | 69.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer | 95.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 2.9" ✓ Drier | 10.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,616 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indio's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Indio leads 12 of 21 categories. Indio wins 12 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 Indio to Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($373,200 vs $485,500 median home), income ($68,436 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indio, CA and Riverside, CA are about 68 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.