Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 19 of 22 categories
Riverside
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 105°F
Rent averages $111/mo less ($1,711 vs $1,822)
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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
81% less violent crime than Riverside
Homes cost $133k less ($352,600 vs $485,500)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$4,308
$87,756 vs $83,448/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
81% lower
109.1 vs 589.7 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$133k less
$352,600 vs $485,500
Surprise
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 95.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 19 of 22 categories. Riverside wins 3 and Surprise 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $352,600 median home), income ($83,448 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Surprise, AZ are about 284 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.