Head-to-Head · City Comparison
O'Fallon, MO
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 O'Fallon leads 18 of 23 categories
O'Fallon
Missouri
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Riverside
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448
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.
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
90% less violent crime than Riverside
Homes cost $202k less ($283,600 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $400/mo less ($1,311 vs $1,711)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.1%)
Households earn $21,415 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Median income trails O'Fallon by $21,415/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
O'Fallon
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
O'Fallon
Median Income
$21,415
$104,863 vs $83,448/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
90% lower
59.0 vs 589.7 per 100k
O'Fallon
Median Home Value
$202k less
$283,600 vs $485,500
O'Fallon
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | O'Fallon, MO | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,600 ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,311 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,863 ✓ Higher | $83,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 18 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 23 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.4" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,825 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.9% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
O'Fallon's cost of living index is 96.3 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
O'Fallon is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 18 of 23 categories. O'Fallon 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 O'Fallon to Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,600 vs $485,500 median home), income ($104,863 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
O'Fallon, MO and Riverside, CA are about 1,516 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.