City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Riverside, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Riverside - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

316,241
Residents
$88,575
Median income
$542,100
Median home
$3,236
Median rent (state)

Riverside - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Riverside lands in the 70th percentile for household income and the 11th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

70th
percentile, household income
87th
percentile, home value
98th
percentile, median rent
11th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Riverside, CA

316,241 people live in Riverside, California - a mid-sized U.S. city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Riverside brings in $88,575 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.1%. Riverside's housing stock carries a median value of $542,100, and the median resident age is 33.1 years. 25.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 60.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1,019 residential building permits were authorized in Riverside (Building Boom), up 50% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Riverside's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 3421.8 crimes per 100,000 residents, above the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $3,236 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). Workers in Riverside report an average commute of 28.7 minutes, with 74.7% driving alone and 9.3% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.8 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

316,241 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$88,575 /yr

Poverty 9.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Riverside compare to other US cities?

Riverside measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 70% higher than other cities
Home value 87% pricier than other cities
Median rent 98% pricier than other cities
Safety 11% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just California and the picture shifts: Riverside ranks #390 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Riverside's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

70thIncome percentile
11thSafety percentile

70th percentile nationally for median household income · 11th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Riverside's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Riverside's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 30 Avg. percentile National median
Riverside's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Riverside's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$542,100 13th percentile more affordable than 13% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Riverside $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Riverside, CA Riverside, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Riverside, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Riverside, CA median $88,575/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Riverside, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Riverside, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
316,241
Median Income
$88,575
Median Home Value
$542,100
Median Age
33.1
Poverty Rate
9.1%
Labor force participation
60.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3421.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
589.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2832.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
77
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
310,000 residents315,000 residents320,000 residents325,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 315,470 residents 323,057 residents ▲ +2.4%
Riverside's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
1,019
housing units authorized
Single-Family
331
detached homes
Multifamily
688
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 679
2020 344
2021 883
2022 419
2023 947
2024 1,019

Permit volume increased 50% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
28.7 minutes
Drive Alone
74.7%
Carpool
10.3%
Public Transit
1.5%
Walk
2.4%
Work from Home
9.3%
Other
1.8%

Based on 148,121 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Riverside sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,236/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Stockton
320,470 people
Santa Ana
311,639 people
Irvine
308,160 people
Anaheim
344,553 people
Chula Vista
275,030 people
Santa Clarita
229,021 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Riverside's 316,241 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Corpus Christi, TX
317,383 people
San Juan zona urbana, PR
320,691 people
Orlando, FL
311,732 people
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
321,122 people
Cincinnati, OH
309,595 people
Henderson, NV
324,523 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Riverside's $88,575 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Leland, NC
$88,576 median income
McGregor, FL
$88,578 median income
Grant, AL
$88,571 median income
Mooresville, NC
$88,592 median income
Ballou, OK
$88,594 median income
Roeville, FL
$88,553 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Riverside, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Riverside, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 39.2% 6.0% 8.3% 29.9% 15.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 54.6% White 39.2% Black or African American 6.0% Asian 8.3% American Indian 1.1% Native Hawaiian 0.4% Some other race 29.9% Two or more races 15.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Riverside compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Riverside (this city) 316,241 $88,575
Stockton 320,470 $76,851
Santa Ana 311,639 $88,354
Irvine 308,160 $129,647
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Riverside, CA?

What is the population of Riverside, CA? +

Riverside, CA counts 316,241 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Riverside, CA? +

The median household income in Riverside is $88,575 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Riverside? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Riverside; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Riverside, CA safe? +

Riverside has a total crime rate of 3421.8 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Riverside, CA? +

The median home value in Riverside is $542,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.