Riverside vs Stockton: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Riverside, CA and Stockton, CA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 316,076 | 320,030 |
| Median household income | $83,448 | $71,612 |
| Median home value | $485,500 | $382,000 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,711 | $1,417 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Riverside, CA and Stockton, CA comes down to what you value most. Stockton has the lower median home value, and Stockton has the lower median rent.
Riverside has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Riverside or Stockton?
- By median home value, Stockton is the cheaper of the two ($382,000 vs $485,500). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Riverside or Stockton?
- Median household income is $83,448 in Riverside versus $71,612 in Stockton, per the US Census Bureau.