Living in Riverside, CA
Big city in California
Riverside is a big city in California, home to about 316,000 people, with 5.5 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Riverside a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 10 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
- Big job market: about 5.5 million people live within 31 mi
- Easy flying: SBD is 14 mi away
👎 Cons
- Hot summers: highs around 94°F
- Few dog parks: 10 within 9 mi
- Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $598k, and rent is $2,910 a month
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Riverside ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Riverside: common questions
What is the cost of living in Riverside?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $598k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,910 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 106, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Riverside?
California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.61% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Riverside safe?
Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.3× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Riverside?
Riverside is warm all year: winter days average around 70°F and summer days around 94°F.
Does Riverside get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding and earthquakes: 11 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Riverside?
The nearest major airport is SBD, about 14 mi away.
How Riverside scores
Each bar compares Riverside with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Nearby
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Is Riverside right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.