Riverside or Wine Country (Orange, Temecula: houses, condo, rent)

[dreamfollower]

If you had to choose between the city of Riverside or the Temecula/Murrieta area, which would you choose and why? {Not for retirement purposes.}

[KarlaT2]

Temecula. The schools are better, there are more horses and such, and I love wine.

[Niners fan]

Here are some pros and cons:
Riverside - Closer to more things to do. You are closer to OC/LA if you are into sporting events, concerts, etc. To me that is the only reason I would choose Riverside over Temecula/Murrieta. Some parts of Riverside are bad as far as crime. It depends where in Riverside you live. The Orangecrest area is nice. The air quality can get pretty bad at times.

Temecula/Murrieta - Much better air quality in general. Probably a little cooler, especially Temecula. Closer to SD (the beaches are probably less crowded in No County SD too). Houses are going to be less here. Drivers are pretty rude though. You will never see so many red lights run as in Temecula/Murrieta. People in Murrieta think pretty highly of themselves. Of the two, I would pick Temecula every time, especially heading out towards Wine Country.

If I really had the choice, however, I would choose none of the above. They are all too crowded for me. But I am not a huge fan of what California has become or where it is going so I would not rely entirely on my advice!

[tkdmom]

Originally Posted by KarlaT2

Temecula. The schools are better, there are more horses and such, and I love wine.

I second that, especially the wine part !

[dreamfollower]

Thanks for the opinions. I do prefer to have better accessibility to the LA area, if not for work, then for cultural purposes, so I guess Riverside ends up being a little better.

My real dilemma is that I cringe at the thought of condo living because I have lived in a two family house back east and did not appreciate the lack of privacy in multiple dwellings. Unfortunately, the extent of a condo's soundproofing is only revealed by living there. The pricing for single family homes in Riverside and the Temecula Valley make privacy attainable, but I would lose LA.

Since a family-oriented environ is not one of my requirements, I may have to choose the condo closer to LA.

There are too many beautiful areas to CA and all have something to offer, and it makes it difficult to really know which area would be best long-term, with financial factors and employment opportunities being equal.

[caligrl]

*I love the Downtown Riverside buildings and Magnolia (I love all those homes).

*I love the open spaces of Temecula and the Wine.

I do hate the overcrowding of both; open land is disappearing FAST!!!!

[orangeapple]

The only real benefit I see in Riverside is that it is closer to LA & OC. Temecula, however, is closer to SD. Some parts of Riverside aren't that much closer either, maybe 20 miles or so. My friend lives in orangecrest area and its maybe 15 minutes faster to LA for her. You take different freeways remember.
Riverside does have some nice areas & good schools if you live in the right areas. Like any city, there are not so good areas with crime. For being a city with a University, there is shockingly little to do outside of typical suburban things you can also find in Temecula (shopping, restaurants, etc).
I agree with Niner overall, except I don't know anything about red lights being run a lot in Temeula . I've lived here my whole life & never seen anything to comment on as far as the drivers.

I wouldn't choose either also, but then I'd like to live where it is more crowded in Cali, like LA . Riverside county is too boring for me.