City comparison
No. Riverside's crime index is 158 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Austin is cheaper. Median rent is $1,729 a month versus $1,914 in Riverside.
Austin and Riverside are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,729 in Austin and $1,914 in Riverside, and median household income lands at $93,658 versus $91,045. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Austin wins on cost of living and the job market and Riverside wins on safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Austin and Riverside are 1,176 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,914 a month in Riverside, up $185 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $91,045 in Riverside, down $2,613 (3%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 158 in Riverside, down 4 points (2%).
The move
Riverside and Austin are 1,176 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,914 a month in Riverside to $1,729 a month in Austin, down $185 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $91,045 in Riverside to $93,658 in Austin, up $2,613 (3%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Riverside to 162 in Austin, up 4 points (3%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Riverside, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Riverside? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Austin rent is 10% cheaper than Riverside
Austin
Winner$1,729/mo
Riverside
$1,914/mo
Typical rent runs $1,729 a month in Austin versus $1,914 in Riverside, so Austin is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,220, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Austin still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Riverside.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Austin's median income is 3% higher than Riverside
Austin
Winner$93,658
Riverside
$91,045
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $91,045 in Riverside, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Austin (about $2,613 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
2% lower crime
Riverside's crime index is 2% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Riverside
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Riverside's crime index is 158 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 2% lower in Riverside. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Riverside, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Austin. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Austin and Riverside are about even on typical weather.
Austin
68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Riverside
77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Riverside averages about 77°F (84°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Riverside sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Austin is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% cheaper here at about $1,729 a month. Choose Austin if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 3% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Riverside is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 2% lower than Austin (158 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,729/month in Austin versus $1,914 in Riverside. Median income reads $93,658 in Austin and $91,045 in Riverside, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Safety scores read 45/100 in Austin and 46/100 in Riverside.
If housing cost drives your move, Austin is the stronger match ($1,729/month rent against $1,914). If an employer or family tie already points to Riverside, treat $1,914/month rent and $91,045 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
With rent only $185 apart, neither city wins on housing alone — let income ($93,658 vs $91,045) and safety (45/100 vs 46/100) break the tie.
Common questions
Ready to move to Austin?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Austin and Riverside, plus other cities in TX and CA.
