Why are people moving to the Inland Empire?

Affordability is the main reason people move to the Inland Empire. Median prices sit well below Los Angeles and Orange County, so the same monthly payment buys more square footage, a newer home, or a bigger lot, with freeways and Metrolink keeping coastal job centers within reach. The region also grew through the pandemic: Riverside County added roughly 110,000 residents from 2020 to 2025 and is now the state's fourth most populous county, while San Bernardino County also grew. That steady in-migration keeps demand for housing high even when the broader market cools. The trade is a longer commute for many buyers, which is why commute time, school boundaries, and community amenities matter as much as price per square foot. Julian Cesar helps buyers weigh those trade-offs city by city.