Fresno receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Fresno
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
Opportunity
42 · Bottom 22%
vs45 · Bottom 28%
Growth
46 · Bottom 42%
vs46 · Bottom 44%
Climate
70 · Top 42%
vs53 · Bottom 5%
Physical resilience
10 · Bottom 4%
vs4 · Bottom 1%
Housing affordability
66 · Bottom 13%
vs57 · Bottom 5%
Access
90 · Top 37%
vs71 · Bottom 32%
Economic stability
48 · Bottom 34%
vs63 · Top 45%
Measured values
| Metric | Fresno | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,177,665 | 4,675,704 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $74,468 | $89,662 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,569 | $36,450 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 145/sq mi | 171/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $389,400 | $536,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,392 | $1,846 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 57.0% | 65.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 7.7% | 5.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -1.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 24.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 11.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3,391 | 13,521 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -7.4% | -15.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 98°F | 105°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 36°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 11.0" | 3.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 8 mi | 53 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 35.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.7 | 35.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Fresno
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake, wildfire.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, inland flooding, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Fresno
53
Your Score
49
Area Score
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
48
Your Score
44
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Fresno, CA Metro Area · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology