Need Honest Opinion of Hemet, CA (Riverside, Moreno Valley: cul-de-sac, for sale, renters)

[Cattknap]

I can barely stand to drive through Hemet, let alone live there...yuck!

[violone]

Wow...I can't believe how negative some of these people are. I guess that is what the anonymity of the internet gets you...
I grew up in Hemet, and I'll admit that it isn't the absolute greatest, but there are a couple of things to take into consideration. First, it is very difficult for the city to pass measures that would clean up the town, or build new facilities or give more money to the schools because that would raise taxes and the retirees (though they are becoming more and more outnumbered) won't vote for such "nonsense". Secondly a lot of "Hemet" is actually unincorporated Riverside County, so that makes it even more difficult to get anything done law enforcement or infrastructure wise. Thirdly, the HUSD is a huge school district, geographically, so that makes things even harder for them. The "affordability" of any town is going to, of course, drive more and more "lower class" folks into town...that's economics. I'll admit that in the six or so years that I have been away from Hemet it has definitely gone downhill, but I know that there are some really lovely parts of town, ones that almost anyone could admire. There are also some scarier areas of town. Just like most cities there are great areas, not as great areas, and kind of scary areas. Some people enjoy Hemet's almost rural quality, other's despise it.
As far as people trashing on the schools, I think that most of them don't really know what they are actually talking about. I know that Hemet HS consistently outscores most, if not all, the other schools in the county (including all those "great" schools in Temecula) in academics. The arts programs in Hemet are also some of the best in this half of the state. In the past few years these two areas don't shine as much, but it isn't, necessarily, because the schools have gotten much worse, but that many other schools are getting better (maybe tryingto compete, finally, with Hemet).
Bottom line is Hemet definitely has its charms and its faults (like ANYWHERE). When economics drives people out of their homes they have to go somewhere, and it is unfortunate that Hemet was stuck in the position of absorbing many of them. That is what it gets for trying to promote itself as an affordable, friendly town, I guess. I think fondly of my two decades of living in Hemet and would definitely consider raising my family there should the opportunity arise. You get out of it what you choose to find...

[Cattknap]

Violone - at least on my part, my criticism of Hemet has nothing to do with anonymity. How a person feels about certain communities is very subjective. I live at the beach - it is clean and beautiful and stylish (it is also crowded, expensive and class-conscious).....I don't like the desert, the heat, the bugs, lack of green spaces and trees, lack of zoning and overall depressed appearance of most desert towns - including Hemet....you need to not take the criticism so personally - some people just don't like Hemet but you do - that is okay, fine and dandy and it is nothing you should feel defensive about....you had good experiences there and it meets your criteria for a decent place - and that is a good thing.

[violone]

Originally Posted by Cattknap

Violone - at least on my part, my criticism of Hemet has nothing to do with anonymity. How a person feels about certain communities is very subjective. I live at the beach - it is clean and beautiful and stylish (it is also crowded, expensive and class-conscious).....I don't like the desert, the heat, the bugs, lack of green spaces and trees, lack of zoning and overall depressed appearance of most desert towns - including Hemet....you need to not take the criticism so personally

I will be first in line to criticize many things about Hemet. I wasn't being defensive at all. Actually I was trying to be sensitive. I was just saying that I have noticed that in internet forums people can get really heated and say things that I would hope they wouldn't say to real people...I am sorry that you took my comment as an attack. That was not at all my intention. The original poster asked an honest question and I was simply trying to clear up some of the mud. It is pure circumstantial coincidence that my comment followed yours.

[Nanseev]

On a scale of 1-10, I'd probably put Hemet at a 3..maybe a 4. It is getting better, but I still wouldn't move there. And yep...really hot in the summer.

Try French Valley (Winchester 92596). It's between Hemet and Temecula (closer to Temecula), but the houses are more affordable than Temecula. The benefit to French Valley is that you're in Temecula school system, which is one of the top in the state.

[cazelais]

Hemet is not that bad. I was there in the Springtime and it was very pretty. I guess it depends where you go. People were friendly. Some were not. There is humidity there because of the manmade lake. I hate hot weather but you get that nearly everywhere. Summers are too long and too hot in the South of the U.S. There is a new pool that is huge in Hemet plus a new shopping mall that will have higher end products coming in a few years.

There is growth and changes coming in. The place has changed over the last ten years. It has even become greener. There are some really funky parts to this town too. Old Hemet area and the Romona play every year is the oldest outdoor play around. "White Thrash?" Your focus and your choice what you want to dwell on.

[Socalgrl]

My family and I moved from Temecula to San Jacinto (right next to Hemet) in 99 and in 2005 moved to Texas nad let me tell you, i MISS it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[slay6454]

Read my post in Hemet/Temecula/Murrieta questions. That will tell you about Hemet. Also the person that mentioned drivers beware were they ever right. The typical age of the oldies driving here is 75.

[fantasywinds]

I am currently living in Hemet, and maybe some of you should change your opinions.
The median age group for the area is now 42, and there have been 37 new home projects built in the last year and a half in the valley. New housing that I have seen starts at about $300,000, which is desireable anywhere.
One good thing about the projects is that they have parks built into the tracts themselves, one protection for the kids.
There are lots of retail jobs here. We have a hospital expansion going on, so there is always jobs there, we have Skyline, manufacturer of mobile homes.
Temecula has jobs, and is about 45 minutes away--lots of different industries.

[fritzjanine]

Thought this was an interesting read for those looking to move to Hemet


Could Hemet get strip clubs?

09:35 PM PST on Friday, February 9, 2007

By HERBERT ATIENZA
The Press-Enterprise

Hemet has identified locations where as many as 24 strip clubs and adult bookstores could open under a proposed ordinance governing sex-oriented businesses.
Moderator cut: Provide a link instead of copying everything here, please