Explore Riverside Communities
Explore Riverside Communities: One City, Completely Different Neighborhoods
Riverside is a much bigger and more varied city than Temecula or Murrieta, and that makes choosing the neighborhood even more important.
You can go from newer suburban neighborhoods to mature tree-lined streets, historic homes, hillside properties and estate-size lots without leaving the city.
I spent plenty of time driving Riverside for work, restaurants, golf and everyday life. One thing I learned pretty quickly is that saying “I want to live in Riverside” doesn't narrow things down nearly enough. Canyon Crest and Orangecrest can feel completely different. The Wood Streets are another world again. Then you get into places like Alessandro Heights and you're comparing an entirely different kind of property. That is why I would choose the area first and the house second.
Riverside or Temecula? I've Lived in Both.
The video below is a good place to start if you're still deciding which direction makes more sense. The cities are close enough to compare, but living in them is a very different experience.
Riverside Neighborhoods I Think Are Worth Understanding
Orangecrest
This is the part of Riverside I know especially well because I lived here. Orangecrest has a much newer, more suburban feel than many of Riverside's established neighborhoods. The trade-off I always tell commuters to think about is how long it actually takes to get from the neighborhood to the freeway during the hours you drive.
Canyon Crest
Canyon Crest feels noticeably more established. You see mature landscaping, hills, different home ages and a broader mix of housing than you do in Orangecrest. Location near Canyon Crest Town Centre and the surrounding open-space areas also gives this part of Riverside its own identity.
Mission Grove
Mission Grove sits in an interesting middle ground between some of Riverside's older areas and the newer neighborhoods farther south. You'll find single-family homes along with condos, apartments, retail and easy access to shopping and the Sycamore Canyon area.
The Wood Streets
If you like older houses and actual architectural character, the Wood Streets belong in the conversation. This is not where you go looking for a brand-new tract home. The appeal is the mature neighborhood, traditional street layout and older homes that simply don't look like newer Southern California subdivisions.
Alessandro Heights
Alessandro Heights changes the comparison again. This is more about larger lots, hillside settings, estate-style homes and space. If somebody tells me they want Riverside but do not want the typical subdivision feel, this is one of the areas I would want them to understand.
Hawarden Hills
Hawarden Hills combines established Riverside character with larger properties and rolling terrain. You'll see homes and lots that are very different from Orangecrest or Mission Grove, which is exactly why citywide averages don't tell you much about an individual Riverside property.
The Riverside Commute Can Change the Entire Decision
This is one thing I learned from actually living there.
Don't just pull up Google Maps at 11:00 on a Sunday morning and decide the location is perfect.
If your job requires the 91, 60 or 215, test the route when you would really be driving it. A house that is only a few miles from the freeway can feel considerably farther away when everybody else in Riverside has apparently decided to leave their house at exactly the same time.
The commute belongs in the home-buying decision before the kitchen does.
What I'd Compare Before Buying in Riverside
Keep Researching Riverside
Questions I Get About Riverside Communities
What is the best neighborhood in Riverside?
I don't think there is one answer. Someone looking for a historic home could have a completely different shortlist from somebody looking for a newer suburban neighborhood or a larger estate-style lot. Start with the type of property, commute and surroundings you want.
What is Orangecrest like?
Orangecrest has a more suburban and planned feel than many older parts of Riverside. I used to live there, so one thing I would especially consider is your actual commute and how often you need to reach the major freeways.
How is Canyon Crest different from Orangecrest?
Canyon Crest is generally more established, with mature landscaping, varied terrain and a broader mix of home ages and housing types. Orangecrest has more of a newer suburban feel. They are a good example of why I don't treat Riverside as one housing market.
Where should I look if I want an older Riverside home?
The Wood Streets are one place I'd want you to understand because the neighborhood has a much older and more traditional housing character than Riverside's newer subdivisions. The condition of each individual property becomes especially important with older homes.
What if I want a larger lot?
Areas such as Alessandro Heights and Hawarden Hills give you a very different type of Riverside property search, including larger lots and estate-style homes. Exact lot utility, terrain and property characteristics still need to be evaluated individually.
Is Riverside or Temecula better?
Neither city is automatically better. Riverside gives you a much larger and more varied urban environment, while Temecula has a different suburban and community structure. Your commute, budget, preferred home age and lifestyle will usually narrow the decision.
What should I know about school boundaries?
Always verify the current school assignment directly with the appropriate school district for the specific property. Boundaries can change, so I would not rely solely on the school information shown on a real estate website.
Can you help me buy a home in Riverside?
Yes. Although my primary focus today is the Temecula Valley, I lived in Riverside and have worked throughout the area. If Riverside is the better fit for what you're trying to accomplish, we can start by narrowing the neighborhoods and properties that actually make sense.
Not Sure Which Part of Riverside to Start With?
That's actually the part I'd figure out before spending hours looking at houses. Tell me the kind of property you want, where you need to commute, what matters to you and what you want to avoid. Then we can make the search considerably smaller.
