Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Riverside leads 12 of 23 categories
Riverside
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Shreveport
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,481 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 58°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 21% higher than Shreveport
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $317k less ($168,900 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $766/mo less ($945 vs $1,711)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $37,481/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Median Income
$37,481
$83,448 vs $45,967/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
52% lower
589.7 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Riverside
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.2% unemployment
Shreveport
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$317k less
$168,900 vs $485,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 26.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 87.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 186,183 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverside leads 12 of 23 categories. Riverside wins 12 and Shreveport wins 11. 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $168,900 median home), income ($83,448 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Shreveport, LA are about 1,365 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.