Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Riverside leads 13 of 22 categories
Riverside
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $1169k less ($485,500 vs $1,654,800)
24% less violent crime than Santa Monica
Rent averages $516/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,227)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 62°F
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Santa Monica by $23,349/yr
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $23,349 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 95°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Violent Crime
24% lower
589.7 vs 778.0 per 100k
Riverside
Median Home Value
$1169k less
$485,500 vs $1,654,800
Riverside
Summer Heat
25.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$23,349
$106,797 vs $83,448/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 62.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 12.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Riverside leads 13 of 22 categories. Riverside wins 13 and Santa Monica wins 9. 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($83,448 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Santa Monica, CA are about 64 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.