City comparison
No. Riverside's crime index is 158 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Denver is cheaper. Median rent is $1,831 a month versus $1,914 in Riverside.
Safety is where Denver and Riverside split most clearly. Riverside scores 113 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver and $1,914 in Riverside.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Denver is the easier city on typical rent, but Riverside can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Riverside has rougher pockets and Denver has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Denver and Riverside are 793 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,914 a month in Riverside, up $83 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $91,045 in Riverside, down $3,673 (4%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 158 in Riverside, down 113 points (42%).
The move
Riverside and Denver are 793 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,914 a month in Riverside to $1,831 a month in Denver, down $83 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $91,045 in Riverside to $94,718 in Denver, up $3,673 (4%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Riverside to 271 in Denver, up 113 points (72%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and Riverside? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Denver rent is 4% cheaper than Riverside
Denver
Winner$1,831/mo
Riverside
$1,914/mo
Typical rent runs $1,831 a month in Denver versus $1,914 in Riverside, so Denver is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $83, or $996 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Denver? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Denver's median income is 4% higher than Riverside
Denver
Winner$94,718
Riverside
$91,045
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $91,045 in Riverside, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Denver (about $3,673 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
42% lower crime
Riverside's crime index is 42% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Riverside
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Riverside's crime index is 158 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% lower in Riverside. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Riverside is the easier city. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Riverside weather is 9% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Riverside
Winner77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Riverside averages about 77°F (84°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Riverside sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Riverside scores 9% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Denver if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Denver is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% cheaper here at about $1,831 a month. Choose Denver if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Riverside if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Denver on this page's weather index by 9%. Denver may pay more or cost less, but Riverside is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Riverside is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than Denver (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Riverside: Riverside scores 46/100 versus 30/100 in Denver, with typical rent at $1,914 versus $1,831. I would vet the exact ZIP in Denver before trading 16 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (46/100 in Riverside vs 30/100 in Denver), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $94,718 in Denver versus $91,045 in Riverside.
Riverside clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Denver deserves a serious look only when you already know the Denver block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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