Perfect weather and picturesque landscapes have drawn Americans to California for many years.
Due to rising housing costs, Californians are starting to move out of the bigger cities.
Temecula, located in Southern California, offers a welcome reprieve from big city life.
Ideal for young professionals and growing families, Temecula has much to offer.
Locals enjoy perfect temperatures year-round.
The temperate climate provides the perfect setting for outdoor activities, which include horseback riding, hot air ballooning, and hiking, to name a few.
Are you contemplating the idea of relocating to Temecula, California?
If so, you’ll want to consider every element of life in this charming SoCal town.
Contents
Pros of Living in Temecula, CA
1. The Weather
As with many cities in Southern California, Temecula’s weather is comfortable year-round.
The city’s nearly 115,000 residents enjoy mild winters with zero snowfall.
Summer temperatures rise to the low to mid-90s with mild humidity.
While Temecula has 280 days of sunshine annually, it’s considered a microclimate.
That means cooler temperatures in the mornings and evenings, so don’t forget to keep a light jacket with you wherever you go.
Temecula is prone to natural disasters like wildfires and earthquakes.
The city’s Guide to Emergency Preparedness has all the information you need to prepare for these occurrences.
2. Cost of Living is Affordable
The state of California is known for its high cost of living and housing prices.
While Temecula’s cost of living is higher than many parts of the country, it’s one of the more affordable cities in California.
Let’s look at some numbers. According to BestPlaces, Temecula’s cost of living index is 142.6.
This is quite a bit higher than the national average of 100.
San Diego’s index is 160.4 and New York’s index is 168.6.
Temecula residents save approximately 18% over other SoCal cities.
3. The Landscape
Southern California is filled with natural wonders.
There are rolling hills, rock formations, arid deserts, national and state parks, and peaceful beaches everywhere you look.
Oh, and don’t forget the wineries!
Temecula is situated in a valley.
This, coupled with Southern California’s temperate climate, has helped this region produce some of the best wine in the U.S.
Whether you love wine or not, you’ll find plenty of adventure in the Temecula Valley Wine Country region.
4. Education
If you’re relocating with a family, you can rest assured your children will receive a quality education.
Temecula’s school districts are highly-rated, with a graduation rate of almost 100%.
While Temecula isn’t home to a major university, it does have multiple higher education offerings.
These include an off-campus branch of California State University, Professional Golfers Career College, and several trade schools.
5. Low Crime Rate
When it comes to violent and property crimes, Temecula is one of the safest cities in California.
Its current violent crime rate is 11.5, while the property crime rate is 36.3.
These numbers are a bit higher than the national averages but significantly lower than most parts of California.
6. Housing Market
California has a long history of high housing prices. Compared to most regions of the country, Temecula’s prices are no exception.
However, compared to most parts of the state, Temecula’s housing market is one of the most affordable.
California’s median home price is $863,710, whereas Temecula’s is $730,081.
Because of the city’s affordable housing, approximately 65% of its residents own their own homes.
The most affordable neighborhoods in Temecula, CA are:
- Mendicino
- Village Grove
- Temecula Lane
- Veranda at Bridelvale
- La Serena
7. Thriving Economy and Job Market
Temecula’s Office of Economic Development is dedicated to the expansion of the local economy.
The city supports businesses of all sizes and is home to some of the nation’s fastest-growing companies.
Crucial industries include healthcare, arts and entertainment, educational services, manufacturing, and retail trade.
Due to the city’s thriving economy, its current unemployment rate is 2.6%.
The current national rate is 3.5%.
8. Entertainment
With almost 40 parks, over 100,00 square feet of recreational facilities, and acres of public playgrounds and sports fields, there’s no shortage of things to do in Temecula.
But, the fun doesn’t stop there.
In fact, it’s even been named one of the most playful cities in the U.S.
Temecula is known for its plush and plentiful golf courses.
It also plays a major role in the equestrian industry and hosts the annual Galway Downs International Event.
If you prefer gambling, Temecula has you covered there, too.
Pechanga Resort Casino, one of the nation’s largest casinos, is located in Temecula.
Don’t forget the numerous state and national parks just a day’s drive away.
Whether you enjoy the beach, hot air ballooning, hiking in the mountains, or a day at the winery, Temecula is perfectly situated for all your entertainment needs.
Cons of Living in Temecula, CA
1. Traffic
Unfortunately, all that fun comes with a price.
The Pechanga Resort Casino has been a welcome addition to the city and its economy.
The downside is that the casino, coupled with the wineries and other city attractions, can cause extreme traffic at times.
Like most of California, Temecula is a car-dependent community.
Fortunately, rush hour traffic is predictable.
If you prefer to leave the car at home, the city does have a reliable public transportation system.
2. Car-Dependent
As we mentioned earlier, Temecula is a car-dependent community.
The city doesn’t have a good bike lane system and, with a walkability score of 30, it’s not the best city for moving about on foot.
3. Tax Rate
When you live in California, you expect to pay higher taxes than many parts of the country.
It’s the price we all pay for living in paradise.
Despite Temecula’s affordable cost of living, you cannot expect a break in taxes here.
At a rate of almost 1.2%, Temecula’s property tax rate is among the highest in the state.
You can also expect to pay a combined total sales tax rate of 8.75% on all applicable purchases.
In California, you’ll also be required to pay state income tax on your annual earnings.
The state’s tax rates range from 1% to 12.3% depending upon your total annual earnings.
4. No Snow
If you enjoy winter sports and romping in the snow, you might want to consider another region in the state.
It does not snow at all in Temecula.
Fortunately, there are a number of great places to ski just a few hours away, including the infamous Bear Mountain If you like snow, you won’t find a single flake here.
The good news is that several major ski resorts are within a three-hour drive, including Big Bear Mountain Resort.
5. Natural Disasters
With a temperate climate year-round, Temecula is a great place to soak in all of nature’s wonders.
You won’t need to worry about tornadoes or hurricanes, like in many parts of the country.
But, like much of Southern California, Temecula is prone to earthquakes and wildfires.
While Temecula has a very high earthquake risk, it has seen a dramatic drop in earthquakes in the last decade.
Experts predict a 97.05% chance that a major earthquake will hit this region in the next 50 years.
6. It’s Hot
Yes, we’ve included the weather in both the pros and the cons.
With an average of 280 days of sunshine annually, it’s always summer in Temecula.
For some folks, this is a dream come true. For others…not so much.
If you’re trying to relocate to an area that has four distinct seasons, Temecula isn’t what you’re looking for.
Even in the coldest months of the year, temperatures hover in the 70s, rarely dipping into the 60s.
7. Homelessness
California has battled its homeless problems for decades.
With over 152,000 people living on the streets, the state leads the country in homelessness.
Temecula isn’t immune to this problem.
Fortunately, the city’s crime rate hasn’t increased as a result of this problem.
You can still walk the streets alone without fear of becoming a victim.
Despite Temecula’s safety rating, locals do recommend taking standard safety precautions at all times.
8. The Locals Aren’t Very Inclusive
If you’re hoping to relocate to a city that’s welcoming and inclusive, you may want to visit the area several times before making a final decision.
Temecula is widely known as a Christian-based community.
These folks have been known to be unwelcoming to anyone that isn’t Christian and conservative.
Locals who don’t fit into this category admit the discrimination they’ve faced is only a minor annoyance.
They don’t want this to discourage people from moving to the area but do believe it’s a problem worth mentioning.
Pros and Cons of Living in Temecula, CA – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Temecula, CA | Cons of Living in Temecula, CA |
|---|---|
| 1. The Weather | 1. Traffic |
| 2. Cost of Living is Affordable | 2. Car-Dependent |
| 3. The Landscape | 3. Tax Rate |
| 4. Education | 4. No Snow |
| 5. Low Crime Rate | 5. Natural Disasters |
| 6. Housing Market | 6. It’s Hot |
| 7. Thriving Economy and Job Market | 7. Homelessness |
| 8. Entertainment | 8. The Locals Aren’t Very Inclusive |
Temecula Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Temecula Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Houses in Temecula So Cheap?
While Temecula is located in notoriously expensive Southern California, its housing prices are much lower than most cities in the state.
This is because it’s an inland city as opposed to a beachside town or major metropolis.
How Far Is Temecula From the Ocean?
The Coastal Mountain Range separates Temecula from the Pacific Ocean, which is just 22 miles away.
What Is Temecula Known For?
Temecula is known for its award-winning golf courses, wineries, hot-air ballooning adventures, and beautiful scenery.
Is Temecula Safe?
While Temecula’s crime rate is higher than the national average, it has one of the lowest crime rates in the state.
Which Part of Temecula Is the Best to Live?
Whether you’re looking to buy a home or rent, there are a number of great neighborhoods to consider.
Glenoak Hills is an upscale, private community and Wolf Creek offers a variety of clubhouse amenities.
With a trail system that winds through the neighborhood, Meadowview is ideal for families and outdoor sports enthusiasts.
Prefer to be close to the wine country?
Crowne Hill and Chardonnay Hills are just minutes away from some of the finest wineries in the region.
22 miles to the beach might be true for a flying crow, but tell your self that when you’re stuck on the I-15 trying to get to the coast.
Temecula is awesome. I moved here from living on base at Camp Pendleton in 2004. Other than the traffic, 79 South and Winchester suck, I have no complaints. 20 minute drive to base, 30-40 minute drive to the beach, Old Town is awesome and wine country is beautiful. My daughter was married 6 months ago in November at one of the winery estates and it was just perfect. The cost of living is not too high but just high enough to keep out the riff-raff. The cons mentioned in the article emanate from the swamp creatures in Sacramento.
Christians are unwelcoming? Only if you bring your left leaning, cop hating ideologies with you. you won’t find gang banging as a daily routine in Temecula but you will find great schools. Your choice.
STOP the left vs right nonsense. Doesn’t matter who you worship, aALL human beings are welcome in Temecula not just Bible totting whackos
Amen ,
Could not say it any better.
It has snowed in Temecula
Gimme a break, it is not snowing in Temecula per se. A few flakes every 10 years it does not really count.
I have pics. It snowed 3-5 inches several years ago. Shut the entire place down. I was driving to work thinking… do we ( the city of temecula) even own a snow plow?! 😂👍
I do remember that vividly.
Was close to, if not on Christmas Eve too, so jolly season appropriate!
Cranked up the heating, and got snug with a cup of hot chocolate.
Reliable public transportation?
In the 20 years I’ve lived here I’ve never seen a bus other than a school bus.
Danno your statement shows an unwelcome judgemental attitude. It assumes if someone doesn’t think as you do they are most likely left leaning (your assumption that that is bad), or cop hating, lumping all those together . It’s sad to hear such rhetoric and am glad I have not run across people like you here. Most are kind and friendly and not judgemental.
, yes you will find unwelcoming people in Temecula. Our Nextdoor app is pretty full of political hate…comments similar to the above. But everything changes, and I think that is slowly changing too.
Housing prices have increased here significantly in recent years.
I have to say, it’s also getting hotter. We do have days and sometimes weeks over 100 degrees here in the summer. Daytime winter temps are in the 50s and 60s quite a bit.
I tell people we’re restaurant deprived here. Almost every one of our favorite restaurants have closed. They’re not being replaced by equivalent restaurants.
Lots of people are complaining about the crime. Old Town has a lot of night life. We’ve had shootings there. Lately, the complaint is that drugs are being slipped into women’s drinks. The women have been attacked on the way out of the bars.
About a month ago, a boyfriend was knocked unconscious on the way to his car with his girlfriend. The attacker tried to force his girlfriend into a car. She was able to run to a police car for safety. Some women have said they’re bringing guns and knives with them to protect themselves.
The Sheriff dept has recently responded by adding four deputies to Old Town to patrol it.
On the plus side, it is more affordable to live here than many other CA cities.
We have lots of wildlife and nature to enjoy.
We have a theater here for entertainment.
We’re not big into wine and gambling butnfornthose who are, both are available. Beer breweries, too.
It’s close enough to San Diego, LA, and many towns in between, so we have access to a wide range of events.
Too many green arrow signals. The signals are still set back when there was only 50 000 in Temecula. Take way too long and too many.
I love this place been here for over 13 years . Let me just put it this way: as for far as the religious right wingers They are a lot nicer to us liberals then some people in my party would be too them . In that respect they are kind and family oriented . We have never felt unwelcome here and we are not christian or republican . All any one cares about here is making sure their kids are safe and well taken care of . All my kids friends family are amazing the people are genuinely good natured and warm hearted . WE have always felt included and loved by this community regardless of our religious or political beliefs . Thank god there are still towns where you aren’t cancelled for having a deferent opinion and temecula is one of those towns! Also it’s beautiful hills and well maintained roads and homes and amazing parks make this place very nice to live here. This place is so great all my sisters , and my in laws and my parents moved here after they visited us a few times ! This is also an amazing place to retire . my parents have more fun then me . With old town and wine country so close . We love it and we are going to stay as long as this beautiful place will have us .
Our excellent schools are currently being destroyed by religious loons. They are in control of the school board and facing an acrimonious recall because of their idiotic policies.
The place offers a high quality of life, with numerous recreational activities, cultural events, and festivals, ensuring there’s always something to do.
The city is strategically located, providing easy access to major Southern CA cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange Country.
There are lots of job opportunities there to begin with. My dad came from there and I am planning to live there very soon with my wife.
Temecula has a strong sense of community, with family-friendly neighborhoods, excellent schools, and a low crime rate, making it a safe and welcoming place to live.