Riverside is a large city located in the state of California. The city has a population of 318,678 residents. Riverside has a population density of 3,922 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. More than a quarter of the residents of Riverside identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 34% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. The median age of all Riverside residents is 31, which is well below the national average. This is a good indication that this city could be ideal for young singles.
Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Riverside could be a positive experience compared to other cities in California if you know where to search. Finding the best places to live in Riverside and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, weather, housing and other important metrics.
Riverside, CA receives 63 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #825 in California and #20,601 in the USA. For each of the livability categories, we see that Riverside ranks very well for amenities (A+) and weather (A+). There is at least one category that did not score well in Riverside. The following was graded with a concerning score: crime (F), cost of living (F), education (F) and employment (D-).
Based on the proximity of local amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, librairies, etc., Riverside has received a higher than average score for its local amenities. If you’re planning on relocating and making this area your permanent home, it’s nice to know that there is an ample amount of amenities and things to do within walking distance or a short drive. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Mission Inn Museum, March Field Air Museum, and Van Buren Drive-In Theatre.
Jobs are always a hot topic for anyone looking to relocate to a new area. Your chances of finding new employment in Riverside is actually far better than most areas. With a low unemployment rate of 1.18%, finding work should be much easier than the average city.
Riverside real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Riverside. Median real estate prices in Riverside come in at $286,600, which is 30% 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 4.9, which is 23.4% lower than the California average. Year over year appreciation rates for homes in the Riverside area were 6.4% and the 5 year appreciation rates came in at 10.7%. Why is this important? Knowing the appreciation rates for any area is a quick and easy way to determine if you will see a solid return on your investment.
| Statistic | Riverside | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 30min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 74.4% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 14.4% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 2.4% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.8% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.9% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.4% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
| Walk | Bike | Compact | Car | S.U.V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | |||||
| Duration | |||||
| Cost/Month |
Here are the best places to live in California
Top 10 best public schools in Riverside
These are the 10 most affordable cities in California
See the best places to live in & around Riverside