Why would you choose to live in Inland California over states like Nevada, Washington, Arizona, or Texas (Fresno: real estate, house)

[BrianSCNJDreamin]

Given that Inland California doesn't have that many jobs and suffers not only from high unemployment and long commutes, in addition to having to deal with California taxes and laws, why would you willingly choose to live in a place like Riverside, Fresno, or Stockton over moving to a place that has low taxes, a better economy, or a shorter commute given that the amenities are the same.

[9162]

Nevada and Arizona do not have a better economy. Perhaps more minimum wage jobs.

[Teckeeee]

That is the 64k question which I always asked my friends that couldn't afford OC or even nicer parts of LA. Why pay so much more for the exact burning hot desert? Drive through Victorville, it looks like it could be in NV or AZ.

[JGC97]

Maybe they don't want to live where it snows. As proven in the last couple of weeks, the heat doesn't seem to be a deciding factor.

[plmokn]

Originally Posted by BrianSCNJDreamin

Given that Inland California doesn't have that many jobs and suffers not only from high unemployment and long commutes, in addition to having to deal with California taxes and laws, why would you willingly choose to live in a place like Riverside, Fresno, or Stockton over moving to a place that has low taxes, a better economy, or a shorter commute given that the amenities are the same.

There are agriculture jobs in some of those towns.
Some businesses have moved there because it is cheaper to do business there. I saw a gigantic Sketchers building in the Riverside area I think, off the 10 I think.
Some of those people that live in the Inland Empire commute into jobs in eastern side of LA County and Orange County.

[atlaw]

no reason at all.

[zombocom]

Well, you're only 3 hours from the beach... I imagine that many people that move there from California got a job, or maybe they are reluctant to leave the state (family).

Economically, they are mostly agriculture towns, and the economy blows - the central valley is bested only by the Appalachians for poverty in the U.S

[No_Recess]

Depends on how far "inland" you go.

At some point you are too far for beach access on a regular basis and it does make sense to go elsewhere.

My brother used to live in Ontario and I thought that was a pain in the a$$ in terms of access. I can't imagine going more inland and still trying to do the beach.

[ccm123]

Years ago, gas and real estate was a better deal, so many found a bigger house for the same amount of money. Gas prices were much lower, so they could commute without breaking the bank.

When I lived in SoCal, I knew of people who commuted from Palmdale to DTLA and Hesperia to West Covina.
Here in Norcal, I had a cousin who commuted from Tracy to Milpitas.

[StandingLenticular]

Inland California is also home to the Trinity Alps, The Sierras, the Shasta Cascades, The San Bernardino and San Jacintos, Joshua Tree, and Death Valley. You get these, with only a few hours drive to the ocean.