These 8 Cities In Southern California Are Incredible To Live In And Won’t Break The Bank

When it comes to living in Southern California, most people think you have to win the Mega Millions Jackpot or have an inheritance from that great-aunt who left you her entire estate in order to buy a house. Although that may be true in certain parts of SoCal, there are just as many places where you can live right here in paradise on a modest income. So where exactly are these spots? Here's a look at eight SoCal cities where you can own a home without breaking the bank.

8. Anaheim

Anaheim may best be known for Disneyland, but it's also one of the least expensive places to live in the OC with a median home price of $528,000. Although a home over $500K seems hard to swallow, that's quite a bargain when it comes to living in Orange County.

7. La Mesa

If San Diego is out of your price range, you might want to look at nearby La Mesa where the median home price is $481,000. Not only is it close enough to San Diego to kind of be considered "San Diego," but it also has a charming downtown strip that has become quite a destination for shopping and dining. You also can't go wrong with a nice stroll in the wonderful Harry Griffen Park pictured here.

6. Escondido

35 miles north of San Diego you will find the suburban community of Escondido. Best known for wonderful nature trails, the wild safari park and the headquarters for Stone Brewing. Perhaps what you didn't know is that the median price for a home in this family community is only $433,000. Compared to over $500,000 in nearby San Diego, that's quite a deal.

5. Temecula

This charming wine country in Southern California is not only a quaint place to live, but it's also quite accessible with the median sales price of a home at only $405,000.

4. Loma Linda

Home to Loma Linda University, this small city with only 21,000 residents is a wonderful place to settle down. Filled with tree-lined streets and a wonderful sense of community, this special place in SoCal is an absolute treasure. The median price of a home in Loma Linda is $393,000.

3. Murrieta

Only seven miles from Temecula's wine country, Murietta is another solid option for living in a wonderful community without breaking the bank. With a median home price of $379,500, Murietta is a great place for first-time buyers to do their house hunting.

2. Redlands

Located 10 miles from downtown San Bernardino, the City of Redlands is a lively college town that is home to University of Redlands. With the median sales price of a home at $360,000, Redlands is quite accessible to those on a moderate income.

1. San Bernardino

Even though San Bernardino has received bad press in recent years for its high crime statistics, there are still many safe and charming neighborhoods to live within this city that are a great place to call home. And with the median home price in San Bernardino at only $239,000, you can get the most bang for your buck in this city.

Even if you're not living in Beverly Hills anytime soon, you can still enjoy the Southern California lifestyle in other great SoCal neighborhoods that are a portion of the cost of 90210. If you happen to be interested in finding out about the best places to retire in Southern California, make sure to check out this helpful list.