California's 'Affordable' Region Isn't So Affordable Anymore

Long considered the cheaper alternative to coastal Southern California, the state's Inland Empire region is now wrestling with a housing crunch of its own. The Los Angeles Times reports that more than 60% of residents in Riverside, San Bernardino, and Kern counties now describe housing costs as a serious problem, according to a new Public Policy Institute of California survey—putting them on par with long-pricey coastal regions. Since 2020, median home values have jumped 48% in San Bernardino County and 50% in Riverside County, outpacing Los Angeles' 35% rise. Rents tell a similar story: A typical one-bedroom in the Riverside-San Bernardino area has climbed about 50% in four years, to nearly $2,000.

The report points to pandemic-era migration as a key driver, with higher-earning households from Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties moving inland and bidding up prices. Longtime locals, already in what used to be the "cheap" region, are running out of options beyond squeezing already tight budgets and moving out of state. For more on how this shift is reshaping the Inland Empire, read the full story.