CountyScore

Riverside County

California · CA

#42 in California
56.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Riverside County, California

Riverside Beats National Average

Riverside County scores 57.4 out of 100 on the CountyScore composite index, significantly outpacing the national median of 50.0 and placing it in the 62nd percentile nationally. This means Riverside offers better overall livability than roughly 6 out of 10 U.S. counties.

Slightly Below California's Middle

Among California's 58 counties, Riverside ranks at the state average with a score of 57.4 compared to California's mean of 61.3. The county holds its own in a competitive state, though several peers outperform it on the composite measure.

Tax Advantage, Stable Incomes

Riverside's greatest strength is its low tax burden, with a Tax Score of 79.2 and an effective tax rate of just 0.821%. The county's median household income of $89,672 provides stable middle-class earning potential in a region where home values average $510,300.

Housing Affordability Is the Squeeze

The county's Cost Score of 44.9 reflects housing challenges—median rent sits at $1,814 per month, and home prices at $510,300 stretch budgets for many families. Data on safety, health, schools, and environmental factors remain unavailable, limiting the full livability picture.

Best for Tax-Conscious Middle-Class Families

Riverside suits working families prioritizing low taxes and middle-income stability over affordability and urban amenities. The county offers a reasonable quality-of-life baseline for those willing to navigate its housing cost-to-income gap.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax79.2Cost44.9SafetyComing SoonHealth72.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome41.9Risk0.1WaterComing Soon
🏛79.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠44.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼41.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤72.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡0.1
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Riverside County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Allegany County
New York
56.3
Median income: $61,233
Guadalupe County
Texas
56.3
Median income: $93,776
Prince William County
Virginia
56.3
Median income: $128,873
Sonoma County
California
56.2
Median income: $102,840
Cheshire County
New Hampshire
56.2
Median income: $81,001

Deep Dives

Riverside County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Riverside County

via TaxByCounty

Riverside taxes outpace national norm

Riverside's effective tax rate of 0.821% sits well above the national median of 0.714%, putting homeowners here in the upper tier of property tax burden. The median property tax bill of $4,189 exceeds the national median of $2,690 by 56%, reflecting both Riverside's higher tax rate and its $510,300 median home value.

Riverside ranks in state's higher tier

Among California's 58 counties, Riverside's 0.821% effective rate places it above the state average of 0.714%. The county's median tax of $4,189 runs slightly higher than California's state median of $4,045, making it a moderately high-tax county statewide.

Riverside outpaces inland neighbors

Riverside's 0.821% rate exceeds San Bernardino County's 0.704% and San Joaquin County's 0.765%, making it the highest-taxed of the three major inland counties. Only Sacramento County's 0.755% comes close, though Riverside's higher home values push its median tax bill even further ahead.

Median Riverside home carries $4,189

A homeowner with Riverside's median property value of $510,300 pays roughly $4,189 annually in property taxes at the current rate. With mortgage-related assessments, that total can reach $4,601 for some homeowners.

Your assessment may be higher

Riverside County homeowners should know that assessment errors are common and many properties are overvalued on tax rolls. A professional assessment appeal could reduce your annual tax burden—and it costs nothing to request a review.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Riverside County

via CostByCounty

Riverside rents are steeper than America's

Riverside County residents spend 24.3% of income on rent, outpacing the national median of 22.4%. With a median household income of $89,672—well above the national average of $74,755—Riverside workers still face above-average housing cost burdens.

Mid-pack affordability in expensive California

Riverside's 24.3% rent-to-income ratio sits above California's state average of 22.4%, placing it among less affordable inland counties. However, the county remains more accessible than coastal hotspots like San Diego and San Francisco.

Riverside edges out San Bernardino for value

Riverside's median rent of $1,814 is $108 higher than neighboring San Bernardino County, though both inland neighbors offer better affordability than San Diego County's $2,154 median rent. Riverside's home values average $510,300, sitting between San Bernardino ($475,000) and San Diego ($791,600).

Housing eats 24% of Riverside incomes

Renters in Riverside pay $1,814 monthly while homeowners face $1,972 in costs—a modest $158 gap suggesting balanced options. At $89,672 median household income, the typical Riverside household dedicates nearly a quarter of earnings to housing alone.

Riverside: inland gateway to California living

If you're priced out of San Diego but seek California's lifestyle, Riverside offers $281 cheaper monthly rent and comparable home values $281,300 below coastal neighbors. The county's above-average household income of $89,672 makes housing costs manageable for mid-to-upper income families.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Riverside County

via IncomeByCounty

Riverside earns 20% above the nation

Riverside County's median household income of $89,672 outpaces the national median of $74,755 by nearly $15,000. This solid performance ranks Riverside in the upper-middle tier nationally, reflecting the county's role as a regional economic center for the Inland Empire.

Middle of California's income pack

At $89,672, Riverside's median household income sits just above California's state average of $87,001. Among the state's 58 counties, Riverside ranks in the middle tier, neither a top income earner nor lagging behind.

Riverside holds its own regionally

Riverside's $89,672 median income exceeds San Bernardino County ($82,184) but falls short of San Diego County ($102,285). The county remains competitive within Southern California, reflecting diverse employment across manufacturing, logistics, and services.

Housing costs consume nearly a quarter

Riverside households spend 24.3% of income on rent—above the typical 20% affordability threshold. With a median home value of $510,300, owning a home requires significant savings, though renting remains the more accessible option for many residents.

Build wealth through consistent saving

Riverside's solid median income of $89,672 creates room for financial growth when households prioritize saving and investing. Even modest contributions to retirement accounts and emergency funds can compound significantly over time, helping residents weather housing costs.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Riverside County

via HealthByCounty

Riverside's life expectancy lags behind

Riverside residents live 77.8 years on average, falling 2.4 years short of the U.S. average of 80.2 years. About 18.2% report poor or fair health, which is above the national benchmark of 15%. These gaps suggest systemic health challenges that deserve attention.

Below California's health standard

At 77.8 years, Riverside's life expectancy ranks below California's state average of 78.5 years. The county's 8.3% uninsured rate also exceeds the state average of 7.2%, indicating persistent access barriers. Both metrics place Riverside in the lower half of California counties.

Neighbors show healthier trajectories

San Bernardino County (75.4 years) fares worse, but San Diego (80.3 years) and San Luis Obispo (80.7 years) significantly outpace Riverside. Riverside's uninsured rate of 8.3% is higher than San Diego's 7.3% and San Luis Obispo's 7.2%. The disparity suggests regional inequities in coverage and care quality.

Healthcare access gaps in daily life

Riverside has 46 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—below the state's need—and 284 mental health providers per 100,000. The 8.3% uninsured population faces particular barriers to preventive care and mental health support. Expanding both primary and behavioral health capacity could improve outcomes significantly.

Check your coverage today

If you're among Riverside's 8.3% uninsured residents, enrollment in Covered California or Medi-Cal could be transformative for your health. Visit coveredca.com to explore subsidized plans and preventive services at no cost. Taking this step now puts preventive care within reach.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Riverside County

via RiskByCounty

Riverside ranks among nation's highest-risk counties

With a composite risk score of 99.90 out of 100, Riverside County faces significantly elevated natural disaster threats compared to the typical U.S. county. This "Very High" rating places it well above California's state average of 88.72, indicating exposure to multiple concurrent hazards.

Second-most dangerous county in California

Riverside ranks near the top of California's 58 counties for overall natural disaster risk, exceeded only by a handful of peers. The county's scores reflect extreme exposure to earthquakes (99.81), wildfires (99.97), and floods (99.90)—each individually at dangerous levels.

Riskier than San Bernardino and inland neighbors

Riverside's 99.90 score slightly exceeds San Bernardino County (99.84) and substantially outpaces San Benito (85.24) and San Luis Obispo (95.90) counties. The Inland Empire's twin counties both face extreme multi-hazard risk, making the region California's most disaster-prone.

Wildfires, earthquakes, and floods dominate

Wildfire risk scores 99.97—the highest in the state—with recent fire seasons destroying thousands of structures annually. Earthquake (99.81) and flood (99.90) risks are equally severe, meaning most Riverside properties face credible threats from all three hazards simultaneously.

Comprehensive coverage is essential here

Standard homeowners insurance excludes both earthquakes and wildfires, leaving most Riverside residents significantly underinsured. Consider adding earthquake and wildfire riders to your policy immediately—and verify flood coverage if you're in a mapped flood zone or near rivers.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

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Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.