Jonesboro AR vs Riverside CA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Riverside, CA

California · Population: 316,241

Median HH Income$88,575
Median Home Price$648,603
Unemployment6.0%
Bachelor's+25.7%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

316,241

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

N/A

Median Age

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

33.1

Foreign Born

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

22.4%

White

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

39.2%

Black

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

6.0%

Asian

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

8.3%

Hispanic

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

54.6%

Spanish at Home

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

N/A

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Riverside, CA	Better
Population	N/A	316,241	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	33.1	-
Foreign Born	N/A	22.4%	-
White	N/A	39.2%	-
Black	N/A	6.0%	-
Asian	N/A	8.3%	-
Hispanic	N/A	54.6%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

$88,575

Per Capita Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

$33,716

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Jonesboro

$53,714

Riverside

$77,230

Riverside +

Unemployment Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

6.0%

Poverty Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

12.5%

Bachelor's Degree+

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

25.7%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Riverside, CA	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$88,575	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$33,716	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$53,714	$77,230	Riverside +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	6.0%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	12.5%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	25.7%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Riverside

$648,603

Homeownership Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

56.3%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Riverside, CA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$225,577	$648,603	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	56.3%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

660

Riverside

503

Riverside +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

2507

Riverside

2388

Riverside +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Riverside, CA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	503	Riverside +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	2388	Riverside +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

39.2%

Riverside

36.7%

Riverside +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.4%

Riverside

11.2%

Riverside +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Jonesboro

20.5%

Riverside

18.5%

Riverside +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.6%

Jonesboro +

Riverside

13.6%

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Riverside

15.2%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.7%

Riverside

11.5%

Riverside +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Riverside, CA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	39.2%	36.7%	Riverside +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.4%	11.2%	Riverside +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.5%	18.5%	Riverside +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.6%	13.6%	Jonesboro +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	15.2%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.7%	11.5%	Riverside +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Riverside

66.8°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Riverside

10.3 in

Riverside +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Riverside, CA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.2°F	66.8°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.2 in	10.3 in	Riverside +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Riverside

7.9 µg/m³

Riverside +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Jonesboro

55.0%

Riverside

75.0%

Riverside +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Riverside, CA	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	7.9 µg/m³	Riverside +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Riverside +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Jonesboro

N/A

Riverside

34.1 min

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Riverside, CA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	34.1 min	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Riverside is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Riverside has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Riverside scores better with a lower obesity rate of 36.7%.

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About Jonesboro & Riverside

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