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Living in
Lake Elsinore.
About
Life in Lake Elsinore
If you're considering Lake Elsinore, understand that you're looking at a sprawling suburban community built around a genuine natural landmark—the lake itself—rather than a cohesive downtown feel. Your commute will likely be significant—the average is 42.2 minutes—so proximity to I-15 becomes important for accessing jobs elsewhere in the region. The area has genuine history (the Country Club Heights district retains architectural gems from the 1920s) and outdoor access that goes beyond just the lake: you're reasonably positioned for weekend trips to Joshua Tree or other desert recreation.
Lake Elsinore at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.4%
Foreign-Born
20.9%
Broadband Internet
93.6%
of households
Population Growth
+6.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics20.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lake Elsinore: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lake Elsinore, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (48.7%), and 33.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.3%
of residents
65 and Older
9.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
47.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
13.0%
of households
Married Couples
60.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.53
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 about average for CA
Rent, home values, and income in Lake Elsinore
In Lake Elsinore, home values are 23% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
106.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,404
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2002
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $581,180 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Lake Elsinore and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Lake Elsinore is 0.4 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Lake Elsinore 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
Commute42.9 min avg
How Lake Elsinore residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lake Elsinore, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 36% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 30 mi
San Bernardino International Airport (SBD)
Regional airport · few flights26k passengers boarded in 2025
- 31 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 65 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M 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 65% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lake Elsinore runs 65% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
115.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,682
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lake Elsinore 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 Lake Elsinore, 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.
158 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Riverside County, county-wide
Lake Elsinore is about 3% 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 Lake Elsinore, 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
Lake Elsinore is about 3% of Riverside County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate95°F summers, 42°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lake Elsinore has hot summers (avg high 95°F) and mild winters (avg low 42°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
95°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
83°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
66°/42°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
11.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.2"
Hot Days/Year
123
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
9
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
32
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°F | 42°F | 2.97" |
| Feb | 67°F | 43°F | 2.85" |
| Mar | 72°F | 46°F | 1.49" |
| Apr | 77°F | 49°F | 0.54" |
| May | 82°F | 54°F | 0.21" |
| Jun | 90°F | 58°F | 0.07" |
| Jul | 97°F | 64°F | 0.18" |
| Aug | 98°F | 65°F | 0.06" |
| Sep | 93°F | 61°F | 0.17" |
| Oct | 83°F | 54°F | 0.51" |
| Nov | 73°F | 46°F | 0.59" |
| Dec | 65°F | 40°F | 2.01" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lake Elsinore
Uninsured
6.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lake Elsinore's limits — nearest 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 · 10.7 mi away · Murrieta
Southwest Healthcare Rancho Springs Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.3 mi away · Murrieta
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.
Education23.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lake Elsinore
Lake Elsinore's student/teacher ratio is 23.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 24.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
17
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, 15 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lake Elsinore
Lake Elsinore has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (15 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
15 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
70 mi awayJoshua Tree National Park
National Park
87 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lake Elsinore
Altha Merrifield - Lake Elsinore Branch Library
600 W. Graham, Lake Elsinore
Vick Knight Community Library
32593 Riverside Dr, Lake Elsinore
Cities Near Lake Elsinore
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lake Elsinore?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lake Elsinore FAQ
Is Lake Elsinore, California affordable?⌄
Lake Elsinore's median rent is $2,078/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $101,888/year. Median home value is $566,000.
Is Lake Elsinore, California safe?⌄
Lake Elsinore's violent crime rate was 116 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1682 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lake Elsinore, California?⌄
Lake Elsinore has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lake Elsinore, California?⌄
The cost of living in Lake Elsinore is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,078/month and median household income is $101,888/year. The median home value is $566,000. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lake Elsinore, California?⌄
The average commute in Lake Elsinore is 43 minutes, which is significantly 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