City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 158 in Riverside, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,914 in Riverside.
The income gap between El Paso and Riverside is significant: $59,745 median household versus $91,045. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,073 in El Paso and $1,914 in Riverside.
This is a genuine split. El Paso wins on cost of living and safety and Riverside wins on the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. El Paso at $1,073 average has pockets that run $873 and others at $1,473: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
El Paso and Riverside are 651 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,914 a month in Riverside, up $841 a month (78%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $91,045 in Riverside, up $31,300 (52%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 158 in Riverside, up 71 points (82%).
The move
Riverside and El Paso are 651 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,914 a month in Riverside to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $841 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $91,045 in Riverside to $59,745 in El Paso, down $31,300 (34%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Riverside to 87 in El Paso, down 71 points (45%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Riverside? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
44% cheaper
El Paso rent is 44% cheaper than Riverside
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Riverside
$1,914/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,914 in Riverside, so El Paso is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $841/month back in your pocket ($10,092/year). Over five years that's $50,460 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Riverside, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, El Paso is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
52% higher
Riverside's median income is 52% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Riverside
Winner$91,045
Median household income is $91,045 in Riverside versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 52% higher in Riverside (about $31,300 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Riverside is the stronger labor market on paper. El Paso can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
45% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 45% lower than Riverside
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Riverside
158 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 158 in Riverside (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso is the easier city. Riverside can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
El Paso and Riverside are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Riverside
77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Riverside averages about 77°F (84°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°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
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 44% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 45% lower than Riverside (87 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Riverside is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 52% higher here ($91,045). Start with Riverside if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
On rent alone, El Paso undercuts Riverside by $841/month ($1,073 vs $1,914). I would not pick Riverside on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
El Paso rent at $1,073/month is still below Riverside's $1,914, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $91,045 in Riverside versus $59,745 in El Paso.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in El Paso; Riverside only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Riverside at $91,045 income.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for El Paso and Riverside, plus other cities in TX and CA.
