Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Spring Valley, NV
🏆 Spring Valley leads 16 of 23 categories
Riverside
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Spring Valley
Nevada
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,341
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
220,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,107 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 106°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 rents — median is $1,711/mo
Spring Valley, NV
Pros
84% less violent crime than Riverside
Homes cost $110k less ($375,200 vs $485,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $188/mo less ($1,523 vs $1,711)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $14,107/yr
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 6.1%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Median Income
$14,107
$83,448 vs $69,341/yr
Riverside
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.6% unemployment
Spring Valley
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Spring Valley
Violent Crime
84% lower
94.1 vs 589.7 per 100k
Spring Valley
Median Home Value
$110k less
$375,200 vs $485,500
Spring Valley
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 95.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Spring Valley, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $375,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,523⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 ✓ Higher | $69,341 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" | 6.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 220,114 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Spring Valley's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Spring Valley is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spring Valley leads 16 of 23 categories. Riverside wins 7 and Spring Valley wins 16. 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 Spring Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $375,200 median home), income ($83,448 vs $69,341), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Spring Valley, NV are about 192 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.