Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 McAllen leads 18 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Riverside
California
5
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.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $327k less ($158,700 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $756/mo less ($955 vs $1,711)
75% less violent crime than Riverside
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $27,122/yr
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,122 more per year on average
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 McAllen
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
75% lower
150.0 vs 589.7 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$327k less
$158,700 vs $485,500
McAllen
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Median Income
$27,122
$83,448 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 82.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 69.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 95.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 18 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 18 and Riverside wins 5. 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 McAllen to Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $485,500 median home), income ($56,326 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Riverside, CA are about 1,260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.