While Riverside County may not exude the tech-driven energy of the Bay Area or the coastal creativity of Southern California, its warehouse-powered economy emerged as the state’s top performer during the pandemic era.
That accolade comes from my trusty spreadsheet, which found Southern California’s inland powerhouse dominating two key growth trends – population and jobs – among the state’s 58 counties in a period that saw coronavirus upend life.
Too many folks forget the heft of Riverside County. It had 2.53 million residents as of July 2024, according to new U.S. Census Bureau stats. That makes it the state’s fourth most-populous county and No. 10 nationally.
In a timespan when “California exodus” became a national catchphrase, Riverside County’s population jumped by 110,000 from April 2020. That was easily California’s largest county gain and the 14th biggest increase among all U.S. counties. During these pandemic years, the overall population of California fell by 124,400 residents.
Riverside roughly tripled the state’s No. 2 county for population growth, San Joaquin, at 36,900. Then came neighboring county, San Bernardino at 32,600, followed by Placer at 29,100, and Sacramento at 26,200.
Please do not overlook the geography of this California Top 5. They sit in distant corners of big metropolitan areas and nowhere near the Pacific Ocean. The coronavirus-inspired work-from-home revolution helped move people away from traditional employment hubs toward cheaper inland communities.
Just look at the counties that witnessed declines since 2020: Los Angeles lost 260,200 residents, the biggest loss in the nation. San Francisco lost 50,900 residents, Alameda 33,200, San Mateo 21,800, and Orange 16,800.
Paycheck pull
One of the major driving forces behind Riverside’s population surge was its robust job market.
The county’s core industry was perfect for the pandemic. The logistics businesses delivered to consumers’ homes the goods peddled by explosively popular online merchants.
Riverside was California’s top county job creator, adding 77,400 workers in the five years that ended in 2024’s third quarter, federal stats show. Next on the county scorecard was San Bernardino, up 67,900 jobs, Sacramento up 47,500, San Diego rose 39,300, and San Joaquin 29,300.
By the way, California’s worst counties for employment were in the Bay Area: San Francisco lost 56,600 workers, San Mateo was off 10,200, and Sonoma dropped 7,300.
People power
So, how did Riverside County’s population spike compare with the rest of the state?
Census stats tell us Riverside’s “natural” growth – births minus deaths – wasn’t spectacular, ranking No. 6 among the counties at 25,900 in the pandemic era. It trailed Los Angeles, with 77,800 more births than deaths, San Diego at 50,300, San Bernardino at 33,700, Santa Clara at 30,700, and Orange at 29,800.
Also, Riverside had a meek attraction for foreigners, adding 26,500 immigrants from other nations in this timeframe – just No. 10 among California counties. Los Angeles was tops with 257,200 immigrants, Santa Clara had 118,400, Orange had 77,700, Alameda had 73,500 and San Diego had 63,500.
However, Riverside’s secret sauce was its ability to attract other Californians and Americans.
The county added 57,100 residents through domestic migration – more than double the state’s No. 2 county, Placer, at 25,100. It was also the 16th largest inflow among all U.S. counties.
Where did those new residents come from? Ponder the outflow from neighboring coastal counties.
Los Angeles lost 589,600 people to outside its county borders since 2020, the nation’s top outflow. Orange County lost 124,500, the tenth-worst in the U.S., and San Diego was down 112,300, No. 12 nationally.
Follow the money
Riverside County’s appeal is a lesson for the entire state – it’s a relative bargain.
Yes, salaries are modest, according to federal job statistics. Annualized wages were $58,500 as of September, ranking a below-average No. 37 among California counties.
This is nowhere near No. 1 San Mateo at $185,000, Santa Clara at $181,600, or San Francisco at $160,000. Riverside also trails its coastal neighbors: San Diego and Los Angeles counties at $79,510 or Orange at $78,160.
But do not forget Riverside’s discounted housing.
Its median house price was $605,200 in the third quarter of 2024, National Association of Realtors stats show. That’s No. 23 among California counties.
It’s far cheaper than California’s priciest counties. Marin, San Mateo and Santa Clara are all just above $1.5 million. Plus, Riverside looks cheap compared with its coastal county competition: Orange County’s median home price is $1 million, San Diego is $917,100 and Los Angeles is $878,500.
Also, Riverside County does well creating places to live. Its housing unit count grew by 43,000 in five years, state stats show. The only counties to add more were Los Angeles (up 129,300) and San Diego (up 48,400).
Then, consider the size of a Riverside County homebuyer’s estimated house payment compared with local wages. Yes, the 71% slice of the typical Riverside paycheck put toward housing seems extreme. But that ranks only No. 16 among the state’s counties.
California’s biggest payment shares are found in Marin at 124%, Santa Cruz at 107% and San Luis Obispo at 97%. Or think about Riverside’s next-door counties: Orange at 89%, San Diego at 79% and Los Angeles at 75%.
These stunning cost ratios are why so few homes have been sold in recent years. House hunters across California typically need multiple salaries and generous relatives to become owners.
You see, Riverside County won the pandemic because it’s a curiously affordable way to remain a Californian.
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com