Californians living close to the beach (the coast) have moved to hills and mountains in the Inland Empire. The influx of middle class families to this area was induced by a pandemic-triggered situation. According to an estimate by the Wall Street Journal, the increase in families moving to the Inland Empire grew by a factor of 50% in the last one year, which makes it 250k people moving to this area.

The Tradeoffs

The Wall Street Journal’s analysis of census data and its findings shared by the journal show interesting and beneficial tradeoffs people struck by moving from the coast to Inland Empire.

For instance, they could find more space for less money compared to Los Angeles County and San Francisco. It was because home prices in both of the areas were significantly higher than those in the Empire.

Median Price of Home

Ontario: A Home Building HotSpot of California

In August earlier this year, we reported about Ontario, CA becoming a new homebuilding hotspot in California. The residential housing boom is triggered by multiple factors, the pandemic being one of them.

“The recent data from Federal Reserve of St. Louis shows job postings were up 8.3% from a year ago in Riverside County and San Bernardino County. That represents the highest growth in the nation. New home communities serve the families of these workers, as well as families moving from coastal regions and urban centers looking for affordability and more space.”

Caitlyn Lai-Valenti​, senior marketing director for Brookfield Residential

Priced out of L.A.

It’s not that the pandemic has started this influx of families choosing to leave other parts of the country, especially the Bay Area, and L.A. County. It’s not even that the logistics and distribution boom in the Inland Empire region has caused something to make it happen. The reason might be somewhere else.

Take for example, a study by ‘Market Urbanism Report’ that found families are being priced out of L.A.; and the displaced are moving east to Riverside and San Bernardino.

We will report further on the latest demographic changes shaping up in the Inland Empire. Last week we shared the news about Leal Master Plan for a 160-acre Leal property in Eastvale being termed as the next big business opportunity in the empire.

Our goal at Startempire Wire is to act as a megaphone to connect the dots between the best startups, events, and people in the Inland Empire. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, and like/follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Author: Sharjeel

Sharjeel joined Startempire Wire as emerging technologies editor. Earlier, he worked at Silicon Canals, a leading English language technology media source for the Benelux and wider Europe. He covered the European technology and startup ecosystem digging into latest funding rounds of startups.