© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Hemet.
About
Life in Hemet
Living here means trading proximity to LA's job market for affordability and a slower pace in the San Jacinto Valley. Rent averages around $1,575 monthly, which keeps the cost of living manageable, though the job market is modest; the economy centers on retail, healthcare, education, and government work, with roughly 24,000 jobs in the city itself. If you need higher wages or more specialized employment, that three-hour Metrolink commute to downtown LA becomes a real consideration—some people do it, but it's a serious daily grind.
Hemet at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.9%
Foreign-Born
19.4%
Broadband Internet
88.8%
of households
Population Growth
+4.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics19.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Hemet: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hemet, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (61.4%), and 29.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.1%
of residents
65 and Older
21.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.4%
of households
Married Couples
42.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.78
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 23% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Hemet
In Hemet, rent runs 23% below the CA average, and home values are 52% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
35.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
106.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,431
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1984
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $441,488 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.7 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Hemet and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Hemet is 1.7 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Hemet Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area
Commute36.4 min avg
How Hemet residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hemet, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 43% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 27 mi
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
Small hub1.7M passengers boarded in 2025
- 42 mi
Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Medium hub3.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 71 mi
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Major hub12.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 21% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hemet runs 21% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
398.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,923.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hemet Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 34 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Riverside County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Riverside County, which includes Hemet, the most common type is high wind, with 34 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | High Wind | $161,000 |
| 2024 | 62 | High Wind | $527,000 |
| 2023 | 76 | High Wind | $455,000 |
| 2022 | 113 | High Wind | $240,000 |
| 2021 | 94 | High Wind | $4.2M |
| 2020 | 58 | Excessive Heat | $2.1M |
| 2019 | 62 | Excessive Heat | $112.2M |
| 2018 | 58 | High Wind | $1.6M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
201 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Riverside County, county-wide
Hemet is about 4% of Riverside County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality80 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Riverside County, which includes Hemet, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
80
Good Days
39
per year
Moderate Days
217
per year
Unhealthy Days
34
per year
Riverside County, county-wide
Hemet is about 4% of Riverside County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate93°F summers, 40°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hemet has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and mild winters (avg low 40°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
75°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
82°/53°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
66°/40°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
120
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
15
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
35
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°F | 40°F | 2.66" |
| Feb | 66°F | 42°F | 2.76" |
| Mar | 70°F | 45°F | 1.69" |
| Apr | 74°F | 48°F | 0.79" |
| May | 80°F | 53°F | 0.47" |
| Jun | 89°F | 58°F | 0.07" |
| Jul | 95°F | 64°F | 0.20" |
| Aug | 97°F | 64°F | 0.12" |
| Sep | 92°F | 61°F | 0.26" |
| Oct | 82°F | 53°F | 0.54" |
| Nov | 73°F | 44°F | 0.77" |
| Dec | 65°F | 39°F | 1.87" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 1.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hemet
Hemet has 1 hospital, averaging 1.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
7.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
1.0 / 5
Hemet Global Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Menifee Global Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.9 mi away · Sun City
Loma Linda University Medical Center-murrieta
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.9 mi away · Murrieta
San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14 mi away · Banning
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education23.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hemet
Hemet's student/teacher ratio is 23.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 15.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Hemet (within 15 miles)
Mt San Jacinto Community College District
5.2 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 15,259 students · in-state tuition $1,451 · 28% graduate · median earnings $43,175 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, 16 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hemet
Hemet has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (16 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
16 mi awayJoshua Tree National Park
National Park
68 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
75 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hemet
Hemet Public Library
300 E. Latham Ave, Hemet
Cities Near Hemet
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hemet?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hemet FAQ
Is Hemet, California affordable?⌄
Hemet's median rent is $1,575/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $57,719/year. Median home value is $352,200.
Is Hemet, California safe?⌄
Hemet's violent crime rate was 398 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1923 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hemet, California?⌄
Hemet has an unemployment rate of 7.2%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hemet, California?⌄
The cost of living in Hemet is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,575/month and median household income is $57,719/year. The median home value is $352,200. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hemet, California?⌄
The average commute in Hemet is 36 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from