Riverside 67 Good
Riverside Livability #308 ranked city in California#9,408 ranked city in the USARanks better than 67% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Riverside

PROS
  • Commute

    An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.

  • Employment

    Higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates are seen in this area. The result is a high score in the employment category.

  • Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Ratings

    Based on recent surveys and polls, locals gave high marks in the walkability to local amenities, safety, public transit, friendliness of neighbors and overall sense of community in the area.

CONS
  • Cost Of Living

    Living in this region comes with a high cost of living, translating to elevated costs for homes, goods and services, groceries, utilities, health care and transportation.

  • Crime

    This area reports elevated crime rates per 100,000 individuals, potentially pointing some areas being unsafe for its residents. Stats are based on both property and violent crimes.

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What's it like Living in Riverside?

Riverside, California is a highly populated city with a population of 327,569 residents. With a population density of 4,033 people per square mile, Riverside is well above the nation's average density level. More than a quarter of the residents of Riverside identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 37% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. If you are a young adult or student, you might be pleased to know that the average age of all Riverside residents is 32. Riverside is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 48%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married. Long, unnecessary commutes can be both frustrating and inconvenient when heading to work. Nationwide, the average one-way commute time takes 26 minutes, but regrettably, residing in Riverside entails a longer-than-average one-way commute time, averaging 32 minutes.

Living in Riverside can be a great experience for anyone moving to the area. Having said that, in the state of California, there are many incredible places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. To help you find the best places to live in and around Riverside, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, cost of living, health & safety, employment and more.

Riverside has a livability score of 67/100 and is ranked #325 in California and #9,047 in the USA. For each of the livability categories, we can establish that Riverside ranks very well for employment (B+) and housing (A-). There are some categories that Riverside ranks poorly for, including: crime (D-), cost of living (F) and education (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to figure out why.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Riverside excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Riverside. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Riverside are affordable. Median real estate prices in Riverside come in at $389,500, which is 4.8% lower than the California average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Riverside, the home price to income ratio is 5.4, which is 15.6% lower than the California average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Riverside

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Riverside?

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Compare Riverside, CA Livability

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      Riverside transportation information

      Statistic Riverside California National
      Average one way commute32min28min26min
      Workers who drive to work76.1%73.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool12.0%10.6%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.5%5.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.6%1.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.5%2.7%2.8%
      Working from home5.3%5.4%4.6%
      Source: The Riverside, CA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).