What’s the best part of Riverside?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Riverside are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Riverside neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to California and Riverside is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Riverside for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Orangecrest looks to be the best Riverside neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Riverside that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Riverside.
For more California reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In California
- Cheapest Places To Live In California
- Most Dangerous Cities In California
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Riverside
Population: 22,794
Median Home Value: $478,844 (Third best)
Median Income: $120,340 (Third best)
More on Orangecrest: Data | Real Estate
Population: 9,567
Median Home Value: $440,117 (Sixth best)
Median Income: $110,172 (Fifth best)
More on Victoria: Data | Real Estate
Population: 3,739
Median Home Value: $716,300 (best)
Median Income: $153,425 (best)
More on Alessandro Heights: Data | Real Estate
Population: 16,782
Median Home Value: $475,387 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $96,145 (Seventh best)
More on Canyon Crest: Data | Real Estate
Population: 5,547
Median Home Value: $365,620 (14th best)
Median Income: $71,377 (17th best)
More on Presidential Park: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,134
Median Home Value: $562,050 (Second best)
Median Income: $147,254 (Second best)
More on Hawarden Hills: Data | Real Estate
Population: 7,159
Median Home Value: $401,700 (11th best)
Median Income: $78,981 (13th best)
More on Wood Streets: Data | Real Estate
Population: 5,060
Median Home Value: $440,933 (Fifth best)
Median Income: $93,451 (Ninth best)
More on Arlington Heights: Data | Real Estate
Population: 9,682
Median Home Value: $426,025 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $111,908 (Fourth best)
More on Mission Grove: Data | Real Estate
Population: 10,352
Median Home Value: $353,125 (17th best)
Median Income: $74,504 (15th best)
More on Airport: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Riverside, CA Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Riverside, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 28 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Riverside.” We’re lookin’ at you, Orangecrest.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Riverside, California has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Riverside.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Riverside
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Riverside where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Riverside are Orangecrest, Victoria, Alessandro Heights, Canyon Crest, Presidential Park, Hawarden Hills, Wood Streets, Arlington Heights, Mission Grove, and Airport.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Riverside aren’t all good. Hunter Industrial Park takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Riverside.
The worst neighborhoods in Riverside are Hunter Industrial Park, University, Eastside, Downtown, and Casablanca.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more California reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Riverside For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orangecrest | 22,794 | $478,844 | $120,340 |
| 2 | Victoria | 9,567 | $440,117 | $110,172 |
| 3 | Alessandro Heights | 3,739 | $716,300 | $153,425 |
| 4 | Canyon Crest | 16,782 | $475,387 | $96,145 |
| 5 | Presidential Park | 5,547 | $365,620 | $71,377 |
| 6 | Hawarden Hills | 2,134 | $562,050 | $147,254 |
| 7 | Wood Streets | 7,159 | $401,700 | $78,981 |
| 8 | Arlington Heights | 5,060 | $440,933 | $93,451 |
| 9 | Mission Grove | 9,682 | $426,025 | $111,908 |
| 10 | Airport | 10,352 | $353,125 | $74,504 |
| 11 | Ramona | 28,966 | $340,321 | $67,567 |
| 12 | La Sierra South | 14,828 | $344,817 | $93,569 |
| 13 | Arlington South | 4,846 | $405,400 | $71,204 |
| 14 | La Sierra Acres | 12,761 | $360,457 | $75,718 |
| 15 | Arlanza | 24,689 | $321,487 | $63,132 |
| 16 | La Sierra | 39,681 | $329,070 | $69,816 |
| 17 | Grand | 6,151 | $378,125 | $74,059 |
| 18 | La Sierra Hills | 5,672 | $402,800 | $89,633 |
| 19 | Magnolia Center | 15,220 | $338,820 | $70,559 |
| 20 | Sycamore Canyon Park | 309 | $426,600 | $108,158 |
| 21 | Northside | 9,866 | $331,840 | $86,623 |
| 22 | Arlington | 10,768 | $327,450 | $56,786 |
| 23 | Canyon Springs | 2,099 | $382,567 | $83,572 |
| 24 | Casablanca | 4,348 | $342,360 | $65,430 |
| 25 | Downtown | 10,100 | $358,871 | $62,962 |
| 26 | Eastside | 15,833 | $341,364 | $63,206 |
| 27 | University | 21,680 | $322,612 | $45,533 |
| 28 | Hunter Industrial Park | 5,609 | $253,300 | $50,537 |