Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 19 of 23 categories
Riverside
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,115 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 54°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 102°F
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. George, UT
Pros
64% less violent crime than Riverside
Rent averages $376/mo less ($1,335 vs $1,711)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $70k less ($415,200 vs $485,500)
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $14,115/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Median Income
$14,115
$83,448 vs $69,333/yr
St. George
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
St. George
Violent Crime
64% lower
210.0 vs 589.7 per 100k
St. George
Median Home Value
$70k less
$415,200 vs $485,500
St. George
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 95.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $415,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 23.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 32.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
St. George is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 19 of 23 categories. Riverside wins 4 and St. George wins 19. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $415,200 median home), income ($83,448 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and St. George, UT are about 305 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.