Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Warren, MI
🏆 Warren leads 14 of 23 categories
Riverside
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Warren
Michigan
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,633
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
138,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,815 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
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
Warren, MI
Pros
Homes cost $316k less ($169,300 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $572/mo less ($1,139 vs $1,711)
8% less violent crime than Riverside
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $21,815/yr
Violent crime (541.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Median Income
$21,815
$83,448 vs $61,633/yr
Riverside
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.4% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 83.5°F
Warren
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Warren
Violent Crime
8% lower
541.8 vs 589.7 per 100k
Warren
Median Home Value
$316k less
$169,300 vs $485,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Warren, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $169,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $1,139 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 ✓ Higher | $61,633 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 86.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Warren Consolidated Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 29.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 27.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 138,588 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Warren's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Warren is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Warren leads 14 of 23 categories. Riverside wins 9 and Warren 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 Warren or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $169,300 median home), income ($83,448 vs $61,633), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Warren, MI are about 1,942 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.