A recent report from ConsumerAffairs reveals what many local residents and business owners have long known: Southwest Riverside County is one of the best places to live and work in California.
The independent consumer research company evaluated California’s 75 largest cities using key metrics such as affordability, safety, economic strength, quality of life, and climate risk. The results place cities like Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, Corona, and Rancho Cucamonga squarely in the spotlight for those chasing the California dream — without the price tag or pitfalls of larger metros.
Murrieta leads the Inland Empire cities with the state’s fifth-highest safety ranking and the strongest economy overall among the 75 cities studied. Neighboring Temecula and Corona also landed among the top five cities in California for economic strength, reinforcing the region’s growing reputation as a haven for both families and entrepreneurs.
“This study confirms what locals already experience every day — that Southwest Riverside County is thriving,” said Lauren Jobe, Media Relations Specialist for ConsumerAffairs. “It’s affordable, it’s safe, and it has real economic momentum.”
In fact, Riverside County posted the second-highest job growth rate in California between 2019 and 2023 at 8.5%, demonstrating resilience even in turbulent economic times.
Moreno Valley, another Inland Empire standout, offers the lowest median rent ($2,394) among the top five cities in the region — a rare find in a state notorious for high housing costs.
The report ranked Roseville as the number one city overall, but five of the top ten cities are from the Riverside metro, earning the Inland Empire recognition as a rising star in the Golden State.
For homebuyers, business owners, and families looking for opportunity without sacrificing quality of life, Southwest Riverside County offers a winning combination: competitive real estate, a solid job market, growing communities, and an enviable lifestyle — all within reach.
More details and the full list of California’s best cities to move to can be found at:
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/movers/california/#best-cities
