Yucaipa
Foothill city at 2,600 ft in the eastern San Bernardino Valley — home to Yucaipa Regional Park, Historic Uptown, and the gateway road to Oak Glen's apple orchards
Why People Move Here
Yucaipa is an eastern San Bernardino Valley foothill city at about 2,600 ft elevation — high enough for occasional winter snow dustings and summer temperatures a few degrees cooler than the valley floor. The Serrano name Yukaipa't translates as 'wetlands' or 'green valley,' and the city retains an agricultural heritage rooted in the 1876 Parrish Pioneer Ranch; Stater Bros. Markets was founded here in 1936 and still operates Store #23 on Yucaipa Boulevard. Housing sits in the mid-$500Ks (Redfin median sale $573K, Nov 2025, +4.2% YoY; Zillow typical value ~$561K), with Mello-Roos in some newer tracts. Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint USD earns a Niche B+, led by Yucaipa High School (GreatSchools 8/10, 97% graduation rate). The 885-acre Yucaipa Regional Park — with its swim lagoon, 350-ft water slide, and three fishing lakes — is one of San Bernardino County's most-used regional parks, and Oak Glen Road climbs from town into Southern California's largest apple-orchard area at 4,700 ft. There is no Metrolink station in-city; commuters drive ~20 minutes to San Bernardino Transit Center for Metrolink to LA Union Station (~87 min) or use Omnitrans Freeway Express 208 along I-10 to Redlands and San Bernardino.
Key Statistics
Data sourced from census records, school district reports, and local transit authorities.
Commute Times
School Districts
Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District (YCJUSD)
B- 8,529 students K-12 across Yucaipa and Calimesa; 22:1 student-teacher ratio
- Niche 'above average' district; state scores: 25% math proficient, 40% reading proficient
- Yucaipa High School: Niche B+, GreatSchools 8/10, avg GPA 3.53, 97% graduation rate, avg SAT 1150 / ACT 25
- Also operates Green Valley HS and Oak View HS (alternative programs)
- District serves both City of Yucaipa and City of Calimesa — 'joint unified' governance
FAQ — Yucaipa
What is the commute from Yucaipa to downtown Los Angeles?
Yucaipa is ~72 miles east of downtown LA. Driving takes about 1 hour 15 minutes off-peak and 100-130 minutes during rush hour via I-10. For a car-free option, drive ~20 minutes west to San Bernardino Transit Center and take the Metrolink San Bernardino Line to LA Union Station (~87 min). Omnitrans Freeway Express Route 208 runs I-10 between Yucaipa Transit Center, Redlands, and San Bernardino in ~45 minutes on a limited AM/PM weekday schedule.
What schools serve Yucaipa, CA?
Yucaipa is served by the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District (YCJUSD), a 'joint' district of 8,529 students K-12 with a 22:1 student-teacher ratio. Niche grades the district B+ and rates it 'above average.' Yucaipa High School — the comprehensive high — has a Niche B+, GreatSchools 8/10, an average GPA of 3.53, a 97% graduation rate, and average scores of SAT 1150 / ACT 25. The district also operates Green Valley High and Oak View High as alternative programs, and serves neighboring Calimesa. Verify enrollment eligibility by address before any home purchase decision.
What is the housing market like in Yucaipa, CA?
As of late 2025, Redfin reports a median sale price of $573K (Nov 2025, +4.2% year-over-year) at $321 per sqft. Zillow's typical home value is around $561K (down 1.2% YoY, 28 days to pending), and Rocket Homes reported $560K in February 2025 (+3% YoY). New construction ranges roughly $450K-$750K. Some newer subdivisions along Oak Glen Road and near Yucaipa Valley High School carry Mello-Roos Community Facilities District assessments that can push effective tax rates above 1.5%. Verify current listings on Redfin and Zillow before making decisions.
What is Yucaipa Regional Park?
Yucaipa Regional Park is an 885-acre San Bernardino County regional park at 33900 Oak Glen Road. It includes a one-acre swim lagoon with a white sand beach, a 350-foot water slide and a 290-foot water slide (lifeguarded, Memorial Day through Labor Day), three stocked fishing lakes (bass, catfish, trout), 42 full-hookup RV sites, 9 group tent sites, disc golf, horseshoe pits, picnic shelters accommodating groups up to 350 people, and hiking and equestrian trails. Operated by SB County Regional Parks.
How do I get to the Oak Glen apple orchards from Yucaipa?
Oak Glen is reached from Yucaipa via Oak Glen Road, a scenic climbing route that rises from ~2,600 ft in Yucaipa to about 4,734 ft in Oak Glen over roughly 15 miles. Oak Glen is in unincorporated San Bernardino County, not within Yucaipa city limits, but Yucaipa is the gateway town. Oak Glen is Southern California's largest apple-orchard area, with operations including Los Rios Rancho, Riley's Farm at Oak Glen, and Snowline Orchard. Peak apple season runs September through November, with cider mills, u-pick orchards, and ~10-15 degree cooler temperatures than the valley floor.
What are the crime statistics in Yucaipa, CA?
Per NeighborhoodScout (2024 FBI UCR data released October 2025), Yucaipa has an overall crime rate of about 12 per 1,000 residents — above the national average but not among the highest. The violent crime rate is approximately 3 per 1,000 (a 1-in-288 chance), and the property crime rate is about 8 per 1,000. The overall chance of being a victim of any crime is 1 in 86. Policing is provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department under contract. Verify current statistics via the Sheriff's Department and the FBI UCR directly.
What outdoor recreation is available in Yucaipa?
Yucaipa sits at the San Bernardino Mountains' foothill interface and offers unusually broad outdoor access for an Inland Empire city. In-town: Yucaipa Regional Park (885 acres, swim lagoon, water slides, three fishing lakes) and Wildwood Canyon State Park (855 acres, officially classified December 2025, with oak woodlands and the 4.6-star AllTrails-rated Wildwood Canyon Trail). Outside city limits but reached via Oak Glen Road: the Oak Glen apple-orchard district (~4,700 ft elevation). Via SR-38 north: Mentone, Forest Falls, and Big Bear Lake (~60-70 min). The San Bernardino National Forest covers the adjacent mountain areas with hundreds of miles of trails and several winter recreation options.
What healthcare and accessibility options are in Yucaipa?
Redlands Community Hospital (operating since 1903) is ~10 minutes west via I-10 and runs a Yucaipa Family Clinic in town. Loma Linda University Medical Center — a Level I trauma center, academic medical campus, and children's hospital — is ~12 minutes southwest and operates an LLU Yucaipa Clinic locally. Beaver Medical Group has a Yucaipa location, and San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital in Banning is ~20 minutes east. Yucaipa's higher elevation (~2,600 ft) means cooler summer temperatures than the IE valley floor, which some residents find helpful for heat-sensitive conditions. Yucaipa Regional Park offers ADA-accessible restrooms with hot showers.
Who provides water, electricity, and gas utilities in Yucaipa?
Yucaipa is served by the Yucaipa Valley Water District (YVWD) — an independent special district that has provided drinking water, sewer, and recycled-water service since 1971 (YVWD also serves Calimesa). Electricity is provided by Southern California Edison (SCE), and natural gas by Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas). Internet options include Spectrum cable, AT&T, T-Mobile Home 5G, and Verizon 5G Home. The City of Yucaipa does not operate its own utility.
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