Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
San Angelo, TX
🏆 San Angelo leads 14 of 22 categories
Riverside
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
San Angelo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,040
Violent Crime Index
57 ✓ Safer
Population
99,422
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,408 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 61°F
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 17% higher than San Angelo
San Angelo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $314k less ($171,700 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $674/mo less ($1,037 vs $1,711)
63% less violent crime than Riverside
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (218.2 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $18,408/yr
Property crime (2486.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Median Income
$18,408
$83,448 vs $65,040/yr
San Angelo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
San Angelo
Violent Crime
63% lower
218.2 vs 589.7 per 100k
San Angelo
Median Home Value
$314k less
$171,700 vs $485,500
San Angelo
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | San Angelo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $171,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,037 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 ✓ Higher | $65,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 86.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | SAN ANGELO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 61.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 22.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 99,422 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Angelo's 90.9 (US average = 100).
San Angelo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Angelo leads 14 of 22 categories. Riverside wins 8 and San Angelo 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 San Angelo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $171,700 median home), income ($83,448 vs $65,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and San Angelo, TX are about 999 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.