Riverside city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Riverside city is a major urban center located in California. The total population is 316,241. It ranks as the 12th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Riverside city is 33.1 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Riverside city is $88,575. This is 8% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 13% higher. The poverty rate stands at 12.5%. This is 5% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 7% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $542,100. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 56.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Riverside city is Hispanic or Latino, making up 54.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 27.5%.

Education

25.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% lower than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Riverside city, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,577 Census-designated places in California. For official data, visit data.census.gov.