Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 12 of 22 categories
Riverside
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($485,500 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $343/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,054)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.1%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails West Covina by $12,771/yr
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Covina, CA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Riverside
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,771 more per year on average
More college-educated — 29.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Riverside
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Home Value
$179k less
$485,500 vs $664,500
Riverside
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.7% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 90.3°F
West Covina
Median Income
$12,771
$96,219 vs $83,448/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
59% lower
239.3 vs 589.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 21.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 67.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Covina leads 12 of 22 categories. Riverside wins 10 and West Covina wins 12. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $664,500 median home), income ($83,448 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and West Covina, CA are about 31 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.