Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Temecula leads 13 of 22 categories
Riverside
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Temecula
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Rent averages $511/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,222)
Homes cost $119k less ($485,500 vs $604,300)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Temecula by $28,433/yr
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
Temecula, CA
Pros
74% less violent crime than Riverside
Households earn $28,433 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $604,300
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Median Home Value
$119k less
$485,500 vs $604,300
Riverside
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 87.2°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 107.9 on the COL index
Temecula
Median Income
$28,433
$111,881 vs $83,448/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
74% lower
151.5 vs 589.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $604,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 67.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 15.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 110,114 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 68.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Temecula leads 13 of 22 categories. Riverside wins 9 and Temecula wins 13. 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $604,300 median home), income ($83,448 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Temecula, CA are about 34 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.