Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia leads 14 of 22 categories
Riverside
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Visalia
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$75,658
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $7,790 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 55°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Visalia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($316,600 vs $485,500)
26% less violent crime than Riverside
Rent averages $422/mo less ($1,289 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $7,790/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Median Income
$7,790
$83,448 vs $75,658/yr
Visalia
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 101.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Visalia
Violent Crime
26% lower
435.3 vs 589.7 per 100k
Visalia
Median Home Value
$169k less
$316,600 vs $485,500
Visalia
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 101.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,289 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 ✓ Higher | $75,658 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 21.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 21.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 23.3% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 86.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 55.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 10.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Visalia is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Visalia leads 14 of 22 categories. Riverside wins 8 and Visalia wins 14. 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $316,600 median home), income ($83,448 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Visalia, CA are about 198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.