Riverside County, California Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Riverside County is located in California with a total population of 2,449,909. It is the 4th most populous county out of 58 in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Riverside County is 36.7 years. This is 2% lower than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Riverside County is $89,672. This is 7% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% higher. The poverty rate stands at 11.1%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.6%. This is 2% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $510,300. Housing costs are 27% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.7x. 68.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% higher than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Riverside County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 50.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 32.0%. The Asian population (6.8%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

25.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% 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 83.3%.