Yuba City receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
Yuba City
Opportunity
45 · Bottom 29%
vs36 · Bottom 14%
Growth
54 · Top 44%
vs69 · Top 20%
Climate
53 · Bottom 7%
vs71 · Top 33%
Physical resilience
4 · Bottom 1%
vs18 · Bottom 7%
Housing affordability
57 · Bottom 4%
vs68 · Bottom 10%
Access
71 · Bottom 41%
vs85 · Top 33%
Economic stability
63 · Top 35%
vs60 · Top 38%
Measured values
| Metric | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | Yuba City | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,675,704 | 183,364 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $89,662 | $78,179 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $36,450 | $35,405 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 171/sq mi | 149/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $536,300 | $424,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,846 | $1,386 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 65.8% | 62.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 7.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.4% | -1.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 19.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.9% | 14.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 13,521 | 854 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 4.7 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -15.0% | 12.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 105°F | 96°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 38°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 3.8" | 20.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 53 mi | 32 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 35.0 min | 31.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.9 | 35.4 | 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
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, inland flooding, earthquake.
Yuba City
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake, wildfire.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
50
Your Score
44
Area Score
Yuba City
58
Your Score
52
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metro Area · Yuba City, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology