At a Glance
Median Income
$45,709
$20,642 per capita
Home Value
$104,800
Zillow: $121,430
Median Rent
$1,204/mo
45.3% of income on rent
Violent Crime
709/100K
2,867/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
17.2%
91.2% high school+
Unemployment
14.1%
27.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
45.6%
19.4% smoking rate
How Riverdale Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Riverdale's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Riverdale a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.5 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Riverdale residents earn a median household income of $45,709 , which is 39% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $20,642. The unemployment rate stands at 14.1% (292% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 27.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 137,804 business establishments, including 12,631 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Riverdale is $104,800 , 63% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $121,430. Median rent is $1,204/month, with 45.3% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1956.
Safety & Crime
Riverdale reports 709 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 87% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 2,867/100K.
Education
17.2% of adults in Riverdale hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(49% below the national average).
91.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.2/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Riverdale has an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C).
Winters average 26°F in January while summers reach 76°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 34.4 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 54.
Data Overview
People
Population10,515
Median Age33.5 yrs
Density2,937/mi²
Male / Female49% / 52%
Foreign Born1.9%
Veterans2.8%
Economy
D
Median Income$45,709
Per Capita$20,642
Unemployment14.1%
Poverty27.5%
County GDP$546,441M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,672
Housing
A+
Home Value$104,800
Rent$1,204
Ownership53.0%
Zillow$121,430
Housing Units5,208
Rent Burden45.3%
Crime
F
Violent709/100K
Property2,867/100K
Health
Obesity45.6%
Diabetes18.2%
Smoking19.4%
Heart Disease6.6%
Premature Death8,536/100K
Climate
Avg Temp52°F
Rain34.4 in/yr
AQI54 (Moderate)
Elevation602 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+17.2%
High School+91.2%
Graduate+6.7%
School Score5.2/10
Community
2024 VoteR 28% / D 70%
Commute36 min
Broadband89.8%
Internet Speed174 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries188
Did You Know?
The median home in Riverdale was built in 1956.
17.5% of residents use public transit to commute.
The nearest airport is Gary/Chicago International (12 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.505 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very High" by FEMA.
13.3% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 174 Mbps.
There are 12,631 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 365 fatal vehicle crashes.