The Inland Empire Is Rising

From "next to L.A." to a region in its own right—the Inland Empire has reshaped itself into a full-scale Southern California center of gravity.

From Overlooked to Undeniable

For a long time, the Inland Empire was described as the place after Los Angeles—a region people moved to when the coast got too crowded or too expensive. That framing doesn't fit anymore. Over the past decade, the Inland Empire has been reshaping itself into a full-scale Southern California center of gravity.

You can feel that shift in everyday life. Streets that were once quiet on weeknights now stay active later into the evening. Local coffee shops, taquerias, and family restaurants are busier not because of passing traffic, but because more people are living nearby and making the area their regular hangout.

New parks and school expansions show up in city budgets. And the old joke that the IE is just where you sleep if you work in L.A. is fading—because more residents are working, building businesses, and growing careers right here.

Growth by the Numbers

Scale That Speaks for Itself

The clearest signal of change is scale. The Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro is now home to roughly 4.7 million residents, making it one of the largest and fastest-growing regions in California. Nationally, it has become the 12th-largest metropolitan area in the United States, recently moving ahead of the San Francisco metro in population ranking.

4.7M

Residents

One of California's largest and fastest-growing metro areas

12th

Nationally

12th-largest metropolitan area in the United States

Rising

Year-Over-Year

Steady population growth driven by long-term household choices

This growth has been steady year after year—a kind of momentum that comes from long-term choices being made across tens of thousands of households.

Why People Choose the IE

What the Inland Empire Offers

Many families who once tried to stay closer to the coast are finding that the IE offers what Southern California used to promise more broadly: the ability to own or rent a comfortable home, raise kids near parks and schools, and still stay connected to the larger SoCal economy.

Why Families Are Moving Here

-Ability to own or rent comfortable homes at achievable prices
-Access to parks, schools, and community spaces for families
-Connection to the broader Southern California economy without coastal prices
-More manageable daily routines and pace of life

There is also a quiet attractiveness to the pace of life inland. Commutes can still be real, but daily routines feel more manageable. The region balances urban access with suburban comfort in ways that appeal to diverse generations.

Community & Culture

A Region That Welcomes You In

The Inland Empire is already diverse, family-oriented, and community-driven. A person moving here from another part of California, or from another country, can quickly find cultural anchors—language communities, places of worship, local sports leagues, campus networks, and neighborhood groups.

Community gatherings, cultural festivals, and neighborhood events bring the region together

Over time, that diversity becomes a strength. It feeds local food culture, small-business creation, and public-school vibrancy. The IE doesn't just grow larger; it grows richer in the things that make a place feel lived-in and real.

What Growth Brings

The Opportunities Ahead

Growing Infrastructure

More local restaurants, new retail corridors, expanding school districts, new healthcare facilities, and a stronger base for services that make cities feel complete.

Economic Evolution

The IE cities are evolving beyond bedroom community status, building upward and inward - adding new downtown energy and mixed-use development.

Job Opportunities

With scale comes opportunity. The region can attract industries that need large workforces, proximity to major transport corridors, and room to expand.

Self-Sustaining Growth

Each new household creates demand for local services - childcare, tutoring, trades, home improvement, community wellness, food, and entertainment.

Looking Forward

The Inland Empire Is Not on the Sidelines

Every fast-growing region has to answer the same question: how do we grow without losing what makes us feel like home? For the Inland Empire, the opportunity is enormous. The region has the space to build thoughtfully, the workforce to attract new industries, and the cultural depth to stay grounded while changing.

This is not a story of displacement or disruption. It is a story of arrival, opportunity, and belonging. The Inland Empire is not on the sidelines of the future—it is helping write it.