Around 70 miles east of Los Angeles, in the rapidly growing Inland Empire, the city of Yucaipa offers lower-priced housing than LA, as well as highly rated schools and a small-town character. “It’s a sleepy, all-Americana farm town growing into suburbia as more people move farther inland from Los Angeles for the lower prices,” says Fatima Nordquist, a Realtor with Beverly Hills Fine Homes specializing in Yucaipa. “It feels really community-oriented in comparison to other cities around here because of all its events and ma-and-pa shops.”
In the late 19th through early 20th centuries, Yucaipa was a rural valley filled with fruit orchards and poultry farms, but it's steadily grown more suburban since World War II. Many residents either work remotely or commute westward on Interstate 10. “For a lot of people who only have to commute once or twice a week to LA or Orange County, they figure that the lower cost of living offsets a long commute,” explains Nordquist. “Lots of warehouses and fulfillment centers have cropped up along the 10, too, which brings more jobs and people into the area.”
In Yucaipa, you'll enjoy the lifestyle surrounded by mountains and deserts.
The elevated view of Yucaipa reveals newly built single-family homes nestled amidst mountains.
Yucaipa was a rural valley filled with fruit orchards and poultry farms.
One of the main industries in Yucaipa are warehouses and fulfillment centers such as Amazon.
1/4
High rate of home ownership, relative affordability
As of late 2024, Yucaipa’s median home price is approximately $570,000, higher than San Bernardino's $480,000 and Beaumont's $532,000, but far lower than LA's roughly $1 million. Yucaipa's rate of homeownership is 72%, one of the highest in the Inland Empire, and most properties are single-family homes in established neighborhoods and golfing communities. “Compared to Beaumont, where all the growth brought big, new houses with small lots, Yucaipa gives you homes with a little more character and space.”
Midcentury ranch-style homes are common and range from $300,000 to $550,000, depending on square footage. New traditional and Spanish Revival-style homes from the 1990s through 2020s are also available; both styles range between $550,000 and $950,000, with newer, larger homes fetching higher prices. Mobile home communities are sprinkled around the city’s center, with two-to-three-bedroom models ranging from $100,000 to $250,000.
Yucaipa Valley Golf Club is a scenic winter golfers' delightfulness.
Yucaipa Valley Golf Club is the perfect destination for golf enthusiasts seeking the best place.
New-built single-family Spanish-style home in Yucaipa.
Nice landscape ranch home in Yucaipa.
1/4
Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School
The Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District scores a B on Niche, receiving its highest marks in diversity and college preparation. “The school district here is excellent, and in comparison to having to go to school in LA, it’s really excellent,” Nordquist says. The B-plus-rated Yucaipa High is the district’s largest school, serving nearly 3,000 students; it's also known for its competitive mountain biking team, which won the Division 2 SoCal Championship in 2023.
Chapman Heights Elementary School for a new community in Yucaipa.
Inspiring minds with breathtaking mountain views at Wildwood Christian Academy.
Students are the highest priority at Yucaipa High
Large welcoming entrance as you pull into Mesa View Middle School.
1/4
Steeped in natural beauty, rich in parks
“Oh, there are parks pretty much everywhere you go in Yucaipa, especially around neighborhoods and schools,” Nordquist says. “Most have great open spaces with mature trees, but other parks are much larger with canyons, natural fauna and camping.” The City of Yucaipa manages 14 public parks, with features ranging from an equestrian center to youth sports facilities. The 32-acre Yucaipa Community Park is among the largest and is home to tennis courts, walking trails and a baseball complex often busy with little league games. Yucaipa Regional Park spans nearly 385 acres of oak woodlands, lakes and soccer fields, with views of the San Bernardino Mountains; the swimming lagoon here attracts thousands over the summer. On the eastern side of the city, Wildwood Canyon State Park offers 900 acres of rolling juniper-piñon woodlands popular for horseback riding, mountain biking and birdwatching.
Yucaipa Community Park is a great place to catch a little league game on the weekend.
Yucaipa Regional Park has a swimming lagoon here attracts thousands over the summer.
Wildwood Canyon State Park offers 900 acres of rolling juniper-piñon woodlands.
Yucaipa Regional Park spans nearly 885 acres of oak woodlands, lakes for fishing.
1/4
Local businesses in Uptown, pie shops in Oak Glen
Although most of Yucaipa is either suburban or rural, Uptown is home to lots of locally owned businesses. “It’s mostly ma-and-pa shops, so you don’t get a lot of big chains out this way,” Nordquist says. “People here tend to seek out the ma-and-pa shops, though, because they love the small-town feel. Plus, you’ve got San Bernardino and Beaumont on either side of you, so it’s not like big-box stores are far away.”
The apple-growing community of Oak Glen is 9 miles to the east, surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. “When people want a slice of fall, they go to Oak Glen,” Nordquist says. “All the pie shops are open, the apples are amazing and the whole place is just beaming with activity.” The area's apple-picking season generally runs from Labor Day to Thanksgiving.
Uptown Yucaipa is a charming small town feel with local shops.
You'll find many ma and pa type shops throughout Uptown Yucaipa.
There are plenty of local specialty stores in Uptown Yucaipa.
Interesting Historic Yucaipa area in downtown.
1/4
Year-round events in Uptown Yucaipa
Events are held year-round in Uptown Yucaipa. Among the biggest is the Yucaipa Christmas Parade, which takes festive floats and performance artists through the city’s streets. “It’s absolutely huge! I remember I tried to show a client a house during it one year and it took hours because the parade is so big and all the roads were closed,” says Nordquist. In the spring, the Yucaipa Music and Arts Festival fills the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center with live music acts and chalk street art. Over the summer, Movies in the Park invites families to enjoy cinema under the stars at the Yucaipa Community Park Amphitheater. Autumnfest in late September casts a spooky vibe over Uptown, inviting local kids to explore a haunted house attraction and parents to relax in the beer garden.
The Yucaipa Music and Arts Festival takes place annually on the first weekend of May.
Live entertainment awaits at Yucaipa Autumn Fest, the perfect way to celebrate the fall season.
Autumn-inspired fun takes over at Yucaipa Autumn Fest with activities for kids and families.
The Yucaipa Music and Arts Festival will create unforgettable memories.
1/4
Interstate 10-access, limited public transit
Interstate 10 runs through Yucaipa, leading about 20 miles to San Bernardino, 24 miles to Riverside, more than 60 miles to Anaheim and 73 miles to Los Angeles. Omnitrans buses travel much of the eastern Inland Empire, including the Downtown Redlands Metrolink station, 10 miles away; from this station, it's two stops to San Bernardino, where connections include Riverside, Anaheim, Irvine and downtown Los Angeles. San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital is 13 miles south in Banning, and the San Bernardino International Airport is 15 miles west.
Low crime rates, hire fire risks
According to FBI data from 2023, Yucaipa’s average rate of property crime was 6 reported incidents per 1,000 people, compared to California’s rate of 23 and the national rate of 18. That same year, Yucaipa’s average rate of violent crime rate was 1 reported incident per 1,000 people, compared to California’s rate of 5 and the national rate of 4. Residents can participate in the city's Neighborhood Watch Program, and the Yucaipa Police Department’s Solutions-Oriented Policing program aids unhoused people by finding them housing and job-training programs.
Yucaipa's location at the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest makes it susceptible to wildfires. The most recent wildfire to impact the city is the Line Fire, which as of late 2024 had spread over 43,000 acres. Yucaipa is served by the Yucaipa Fire Department and CAL FIRE; the latter encourages locals to sign up for its emergency text alerts. Yucaipa's position on the San Andreas fault also makes it vulnerable to earthquakes, though they rarely exceed a low magnitude of 1; the strongest quake ever recorded in the city was a magnitude of 4.9, in 2005.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
