Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Peoria leads 18 of 22 categories
Peoria
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292
Riverside
California
4
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.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
57% less violent crime than Riverside
Homes cost $102k less ($383,600 vs $485,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Riverside, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$3,311
$86,759 vs $83,448/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
57% lower
254.7 vs 589.7 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$102k less
$383,600 vs $485,500
Peoria
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.1% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 95.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 ✓ Higher | $83,448 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 95.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 32.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 18 of 22 categories. Peoria wins 18 and Riverside wins 4. 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 Peoria to Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $485,500 median home), income ($86,759 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Riverside, CA are about 292 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.