Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Sunrise, FL
🏆 Sunrise leads 11 of 19 categories
Riverside
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Sunrise
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,001
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
96,510
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,447 more per year on average
Rent averages $135/mo less ($1,711 vs $1,846)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunrise
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Sunrise, FL
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($296,100 vs $485,500)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 70°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $17,447/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher rents — median is $1,846/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Riverside
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Income
$17,447
$83,448 vs $66,001/yr
Riverside
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 91.1°F
Sunrise
Median Home Value
$189k less
$296,100 vs $485,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Sunrise, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $296,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,846⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 ✓ Higher | $66,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 10.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F | 76.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 67.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 96,510 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 19.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Sunrise's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Sunrise leads 11 of 19 categories. Riverside wins 8 and Sunrise 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 Sunrise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $296,100 median home), income ($83,448 vs $66,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Sunrise, FL are about 2,271 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.