Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Riverside leads 14 of 23 categories
New York
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Riverside
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
New York, NY
Pros
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 6.1%)
Riverside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $247k less ($485,500 vs $732,100)
12% less violent crime than New York
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 40°F
Households earn $6,841 more per year on average
Cons
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
Riverside
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Income
$6,841
$83,448 vs $76,607/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
12% lower
589.7 vs 671.0 per 100k
Riverside
Median Home Value
$247k less
$485,500 vs $732,100
Riverside
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.6% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 316,076 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverside leads 14 of 23 categories. New York wins 9 and Riverside wins 14. 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 New York to Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $485,500 median home), income ($76,607 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Riverside, CA are about 2,408 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.