RANK #735 / 996 NAT · #15 / 43 CA · POP 2,429,487
1YR FORECAST: +0.0%
5YR OUTLOOK: +18%
Temecula Valley Wine Country, with its rolling hills and vineyards, stands out as a distinctive feature of Riverside County, offering a unique blend of agriculture and leisure. Located in Southern California, Riverside County spans from the greater Los Angeles area to the Arizona border, encompassing diverse landscapes from chaparral to desert and mountains. Commuting within the expansive county, which is roughly the size of New Jersey, can involve significant travel times, though public transportation options like Metrolink and various bus services are available. The region boasts extensive outdoor recreation, including hiking and biking trails in areas like the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve and Mount Rubidoux Park, along with opportunities for water activities at Lake Elsinore and Lake Hemet.
Life in Riverside County often involves a balance between suburban living and access to natural amenities. Many residents commute to jobs within Southern California, with average commute times around 31 minutes. The county is home to numerous schools, with the Riverside County Office of Education overseeing programs for nearly half a million students. The economy is experiencing growth, with job creation in sectors such as logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare. There is also a focus on developing clean energy initiatives and improving infrastructure to support continued economic expansion and reduce commuter traffic.
Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Prices declining
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 11.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Crimson Energy Storage Project
Recurrent Energy (80% Axium Infrastructure, 20% Canadian Solar Inc.)
|
$500M | Operating |
|
Nova Power Bank Battery Storage Facility
Calpine
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
Desert Quartzite Solar Farm
Unknown
|
$300M | Planned |
|
Arica Solar Farm
Arica Solar, LLC
|
$263M | Operating |
|
San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm Repowering Projects (Coachella Hills, Painted Hills, Desert Hot Springs, Mountain View, Mesa, Alta Mesa)
Terra-Gen Operating Co-Wind and others
|
$150M | Operating |
|
Desert Harvest Solar Project
EDF Renewable Energy
|
$150M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
At 26/100, Riverside County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 996 counties we track. Median income of $84,505 combined with job growth of +2.5% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Riverside County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $462,900 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.18 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,711/month on average.
Riverside County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.8% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +2.5% clip. Home values shifted -2.0% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.84% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Riverside County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.