Does anyone live in Riverside, California? Is it nice there? Can you recommend to live there?

Wow, I am offended at these answers, truly. I have lived in Riverside since 1970 and it is still better than most cities in So Cal. We have a conservative populace. We have a city that buys its own electricity so we're not at the mercy of Edison or Enron types. We have our own fresh water wells so we don't suffer shortages as other communities. We have very low taxes and utility bills. We have a police force that actually shows up in a timely manner when you call. We have very little crime, even in our poor neighborhoods. We have people that get up and go to work or school every day, not hanging out smoking pot and drinking. We have young people who have goals in life are weren't spoiled by their affluent parents, re: Orange County kids. We have a city that doesn't tolerate gangs, drugs and everything that goes with them. Our population is around 300,000. Yes, we have good weather and all the standard attractions. This is a very old community. I know people who have roots in this city that go all the way back to the mid 1800's. People who live here care about this city. There are no better folks anywhere in So Cal. Don't believe the haters.

HELL NO dont go to riverside its the worst and the most ghetto place the people there are rude and stupid you should move to Newport or Huntington beach or Costa mease<-if you want coastal areas or there is Always Los Angles thats were i love but i repeat DO NOT MOVE TO RIVERSIDE its HORRIBLE!!!!!

it's OK. A lot of people live there because it's one of the cheapest places in Southern California. If you are working there then it's fine. Do not make the stupid mistake of working in LA or OC and living there just to get a cheaper house.

Oh Riverside...the 909 or the 951--which really is the 909 in disguise. I would never recommend anyone to live in the 909 or 951. It's the valley of the dirt people, the home of bros and bro trucks, and people are missing teeth there. They also wear flatbillers there. I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy to move there. The pros: Are there any? The cons: It's hot. It's dusty. There is no beach near by. There is nothing to do there and nothing to see. Property costs are cheaper because well, no one wants to live there really. The weather is generally hotter than it is in other parts of LA and Orange County. Interesting places to see? No. Schools...well UC Riverside is there. It's the easiest UC to get into so no need to aim high. I can't say that there is anything to see there or that it's known for anything except that no one wants to go there. Whenever someone tells me they are going to Riverside, it's not because they want to go but because they have some sort of obligation to go. What I'm really trying to say here is: Don't do it!

Okay people...yes Riverside has some shady neighborhoods, but there are some very nice ones as well. It is NOT as bad as people are making it out to be. There are some affordable nice apartments available and some areas with gorgeous victorian style houses that most of the people on here could not even afford if they wanted to live there. It does get extremely hot there in the summer and not a whole lot of entertainment there. There are some mini-malls, theaters, restaurants etc, and there is a hiking trail up to Mt. Rubidoux, and a bike path that runs along the Santa Ana River that you can take all the way to the beach if you wanted to. In the downtown area there is a gorgeous hotel called the Mission Inn with restaurants and tours, and lots of antique type shops, restaurants, coffee shops, etc nearby. The University of Riverside is located there as well. You are pretty centrally located to be able to drive to other areas for entertainment if need be.

Eww, No... I live in Laguna Beach and before they changed the zip code it was a running joke when you talked about poor white trash you would say they are from the 909 which is part of riverside or still is not 100 percent. Lets put it this way there is no river close to Riverside unless you count the sewer.

Wow, while I don't disagree with anything anyone has said so far, there are some pros...well...er..un....houses are cheaper there, that's about it really, but I'd say the cons outweigh the pros. It is dusty and windy this time of year. It's hot as the devils crotch in summer, cold as a witches tit in the winter. A LOT of shady people, desert gangbangers, rednacks etc. basically some of the worst people in southern cal live in the IE (inland empire, riverside and surrounding areas). We here in OC often refer to it as Rivertucky. Really should tell you all you need to know.

FYI---- California is a cesspool