Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 14 of 22 categories
Riverside
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Roseville
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $111k less ($485,500 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $229/mo less ($1,711 vs $1,940)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 55°F
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $28,817/yr
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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.5%)
Roseville, CA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Riverside
Households earn $28,817 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Home Value
$111k less
$485,500 vs $596,700
Roseville
Median Income
$28,817
$112,265 vs $83,448/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
63% lower
219.2 vs 589.7 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 21.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 148,879 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Roseville leads 14 of 22 categories. Riverside wins 8 and Roseville 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 Riverside to Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $596,700 median home), income ($83,448 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Roseville, CA are about 399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.