Moving to Riverside, CA

Thinking about moving to Riverside?

You’ll be in good company. Between 2010 and 2016, more than 20,851 people have moved to Riverside, an increase of 6.9%. Riverside draws people in with its affordability relative to the rest of southern California, its growing economy, its temperate weather, its scenic hills and valleys, and its enviable location between the beach and the mountains. Just an hour outside of downtown Los Angeles, Riverside is far enough away from LA to provide an escape from the big city, but close enough to commute and enjoy LA’s amenities.

Living

Riverside is home to 324,722 Riversiders. With an area of 81.1 square miles, Riverside has a population density of 4,004 persons per square mile, which makes it less dense than many other cities of comparable size.

The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area boasts a population of 4,527,837 people, of which Riverside proper’s population makes up 7%.

Housing

While real estate in Riverside is generally much cheaper than in nearby Los Angeles, it’s still expensive relative to most of the country. The median home value in Riverside is $354,300, 77% above the US median value, according to Zillow. The median price per square foot in Riverside is $240. Over the past 5 years, home values in Riverside have increased by 12%.

Renters in Riverside will also have a hard time finding affordable housing. The median rent in Riverside is $1,823 per month, which is 27% higher than the US median. Over the past year, rental rates in Riverside have increased by 4.5%.

Economy

Riverside’s economy is on fire. The Riverside metro area’s GDP grew by 25% between 2011 and 2016, from $119.3 billion in 2011 to $149.0 billion in 2016, a total increase of $29.7 billion. The metro area has a per capita GDP of $32,921. According to the US Census Bureau, the median household income in Riverside is $55,092, 7% lower than the national median. Riverside’s unemployment rate is 5.5%.

Weather

The average annual temperature in Riverside is 65.45 degrees. The average annual low temperature is 51.4 degrees, while the average annual high is 79.5 degrees. Riverside’s hottest month is August, during which the average high temperature is 95 degrees, while the coldest month is December, when the average low drops down to 42 degrees.

Riverside sees an average rainfall of 10.32 inches per year. February is the wettest month, with an average rainfall of 2.4 inches, while July is the dryest month, with an average rainfall of 0.04 inches.

Crime

Riverside is a safe city, with a violent crime rate of only 446 incidents per 100,000 persons according to the FBI, a lower rate than average. Property crime rates in Riverside are relatively low, with a rate of 3,260 incidents per 100,000 persons, a lower rate than average.

Traffic & Transportation

The average commute time in Riverside is 29 minutes. Walk Score gives Riverside a 41 walk score, a 31 transit score, and a 50 bike score.

Cost of Living

Riverside is an expensive place to live with a high cost of living. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis‘s Regional Price Parity survey, which takes into account cost of living metrics including the price of goods and services and housing, Riverside has a regional price parity of 116.3, 6.2% above the average for US metro areas.

Demographics

The median age in Riverside is 32.9 years. 49.8% of the population in the Riverside metro area is male, while 50.2% is female. 21.5% of the metro population is foreign born.

In terms of racial demographics, Riverside is 33.8% Non-Hispanic White, 49.8% Hispanic, 6% Black, and 6.3% Asian.

79.4% of those over the age of 25 in Riverside have a high school diploma, a lower rate than nationally. 22.2% of those over the age of 25 have a bachelor’s degree, which is lower than the national rate. 8.7% of residents have an advanced or professional degree.

In the 2016 presidential election, 44% of Riverside voters voted for the Republican nominee, while 50% voted for the Democratic nominee.