Riverside County is the fourth-most populous county in California and the tenth-most populous county in the United States and covers 7,208 square miles.
Joshua Tree National Park is home to world-class climbing and bouldering. The Empire Polo Club, located in Indio, is home to the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (the first festival was held in 1999). The heavily guarded compound of Gold Base (fifty buildings surrounded by high fences and monitored by the Church of Scientology) is also located in the county.
Residents enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities in thousands of acres of parks, sports parks, nature centers, trails, open space areas, and reserves. The temperature of the region will vary from 43ºF-94ºF over the course of the year but rarely falls below 36ºF or rises above 103ºF. The county is served by 34 hospitals and one level-I trauma center.
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Demographics
According to the U.S. Census Bureau of Statistics, these are some recent statistics for Riverside County:
- The population of Riverside County California was 2,418,185 in 2020
- The population estimate for 2021 is 2,458,395
- The growth rate of Riverside County was approximately 1.7% from 2020-2021
- Approximately 57.7% of the population is aged 18-64 years
- Approximately 30.5% of the population is under 18 years
Housing
U.S. Census Bureau data shows that many of the households in Riverside County have more than 3 people, and currently there are fewer housing units than there are households.
Current census statistics reveal:
- There were 740,506 households with 3.20 persons per household in 2017-2021
- There were 735,979 housing units as of July 1st, 2021
- The owner-occupied housing unit rate in 2017-2021 was 68.1%
- The median gross rent for 2017-2021 was $1,552
Income & Employment
Income Data
The median household income in 2017-2021 was $76,066 (in 2021 dollars) while the total number of employed residents was 622,141 in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Top Employers
The top employers of Riverside County include the County of Riverside (~22,952 employees), Amazon (~10,500 employees), and March Air Reserve Base (~9,600 employees). Other top employers (with workforces ranging from 4,313-8,909) include the University of California Riverside, Stater Bros, Moreno Valley Unified School District, Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center, Corona-Norco Unified School District, Hemet Unified School District, and Ross Dress for Less.
Transportation
Drivers rely on 3 major interstate highways, 3 U.S. highways, and 13 state highways.
- Public Transit Bus: Riverside Transit Agency serves Riverside County with 36 fixed routes. Transit rates start at $1.75 for the base fare, $5 for a Day Pass, $20 for a 7-Day Pass, and $60 for a 30-Day Pass in 2023. Reduced fares are available for veterans, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
- Public Transit Rail: Metrolink provides rail service to commuters in Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties. There are nine stations in Riverside County. Metrolink connects with the Metro Rail and Metro Bus System in Los Angeles County. Ticket prices will vary depending on your starting point and destination.
- Commercial Airport: Palm Springs International Airport is the major commercial airport with a total passenger count for 2021 of 2,092,943. It is one of five airports the county manages.
Shopping Centers
The county includes a 475,000-square-foot outdoor shopping area: Riverside Plaza in Riverside (Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls, Carter’s, etc.), and Main Street Riverside (a pedestrian walkway with unique shops). Indoor shopping areas include Moreno Valley Mall (Macy’s, JCPenney, etc.) and the Promenade Temecula (Macy’s, JCPenney, etc.).
Outlet shoppers look for bargains shopping outdoors at Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon.
Medical Centers
Some of the top hospitals in Riverside County, as reported by the U.S. News & World Report include:
- Eisenhower Medical Center (Rancho Mirage, CA)
- Desert Regional Medical Center (Palm Springs, CA)
- Kaiser Permanente Moreno Valley Medical Center (Moreno Valley, CA)
- Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center (Riverside, CA)
Sports, Entertainment & Recreation
Tennis lovers enjoy tournaments at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, a tennis facility with two stadiums built in 2000. Stadium 1 has a capacity for 16,100 guests making it the 2nd largest outdoor tennis stadium in the world.
The AHL Coachella Valley Firebirds formed in 2022 and now play home games at Acrisure Arena in Thousand Palms following the arena’s grand opening on December 14th, 2022. The arena is a 10,000-seat milt-purpose venue and celebrated opening weekend with performances by Chris Rock & Dave Chapelle, the Doobie Brothers, and ice hockey games (Coachella Valley Firebirds vs. Tucson Roadrunners).
Residents enjoy a wide variety of outdoor recreation at 7 Regional Parks, a multitude of city parks, and Joshua Tree National Park (which straddles the counties of Riverside and San Bernardino). Hiking, astronomy, and world-class climbing attract visitors from near and far to the national park. There are over 8,000 climbing routes and 2,000 boulder problems. The park had over three million visitors in 2021.
Learn More About Riverside County with Mark Bridge
Thinking of purchasing multifamily units and investment properties in Riverside County or Southern California? Connect with the Bridge Multifamily Team at Cushman & Wakefield to get started on your Riverside County multifamily property search today. Reach out to us online or give our office a call at 949-372-4888!
