Menifee, CA: A Demographic Overview

Introduction

Nestled in the heart of Riverside County, the city of Menifee has seen robust population growth and demographic changes over the past couple of decades.

With its sunny weather, affordable housing, and family-friendly amenities, Menifee has become an increasingly popular place for young families and retirees alike to call home.

This article will provide an in-depth look at Menifee’s current and historical demographics including population trends, age distribution, racial diversity, household data and more.

Menifee’s Population Growth

From Rural Town to Booming City

Menifee was incorporated as a city relatively recently in 2008. Prior to that it was an unincorporated, mostly rural area. Over the last decade or so, Menifee has seen explosive population growth, transitioning from a little-known town to the booming city it is today:

• In 1990, there were just over 3,000 residents
• By 2000, the population grew to over 25,000
• When Menifee became a city in 2008, there were over 77,000 residents
• As of 2019 estimates, there were over 95,000 people living in Menifee

This represents a staggering 3073% population increase over the past 30 years! What has fueled this rapid growth?

Draw Factors for Growth

Several key factors have made Menifee an attractive place to settle in recent years:

• Affordable housing: Compared to nearby cities, Menifee has had very affordable new housing construction attractive to first-time home buyers and growing families. The average home price is currently around $385,000.
• Inland migration: There has been substantial migration from coastal Southern California inland to Riverside County looking for affordability.
• Retirement communities: Numerous retirement communities have been built catering to seniors looking for warm weather, low taxes, golf courses and other amenities.
• Family-friendly: With good schools, parks and recreation centers, Menifee is viewed as an ideal place to raise a family.

With its affordable suburbs, senior communities and family-friendly vibe, Menifee has clearly offered what many California residents are seeking.

More growth is expected in the future as Menifee continues to be an appealing part of inland Southern California.

Age Profile and Households

Menifee has a relatively young, family-oriented population. But is also has significant retiree and senior households as well. Some key facts about the age and household profiles:

Age Distribution

• 25% are under age 18
• 13% are over age 65
• Median age is 40 years old

Menifee’s age distribution skews slightly younger than the U.S. as a whole. Nationwide, around 22% are under 18 and 16% are over 65.

The large share of children and families helps Menifee maintain a vibrant, youthful community. While the senior population contributes experience and drives demand for amenities.

Household Data

• 7% are single-person households
• 30% are married couples without children
• 45% are married couples with children
• Average household size is 3.18 people

Clearly families are the dominant household type in Menifee. The city has developed with family-centered suburban communities in most areas. Though there are some retirement housing options as well for senior citizens.

Menifee’s Growing Diversity

Another area where Menifee is changing is in its ethnic profile. Once predominantly white, the city is now much more diverse:

Historical Racial Makeup

• In 1990 Menifee was 88% white
• By 2000 it was around 75% white
• The latest 2019 estimates put the white population under 50% for the first time

Hispanics now are a near-equal proportion to non-Hispanic whites. And communities of Asians, Blacks and multiracial individuals are growing as well.

Current Racial Breakdown

• 43% Non-Hispanic white
• 41% Hispanic/Latino (of any race)
• 5% Asian
• 4% Black/African American
• 4% Two or more races
• 1% Other race

While no group holds a true majority, Whites and Hispanics make up the vast majority in roughly equal measure. Other groups though are indeed present and add diversity to the community.

Economic and Housing Profile

Underpinning Menifee’s demographics are some basic economic factors: income, poverty rates and housing statistics.

Income

The median household income in Menifee is $80,888. This is above the national median of around $65,000. Contributing to the higher incomes are Menifee’s concentrations of middle-aged professionals with equity from coastal housing markets.

Plus considerable pensions and social security income from retiree households.

Poverty

Despite the sound median income levels, 7.7% of Menifee residents live below the poverty line. This again is lower than the national poverty rate which is around 12-13%. While a large segment of residents are clearly middle income or affluent, there remains a portion still facing economic hardship.

Housing

Most housing in Menifee consists of owner-occupied, recently constructed single-family homes. Some details:

• 64% of units are owner-occupied
• Average home value is $385,000
• 65% of homes have 3+ bedrooms
• Average rent is is $1,831/month
• Only 5% of housing units lack complete kitchen or plumbing facilities, indicating minimal substandard housing issues.

So Menifee housing stock is focused on suburban-style, owner-occupied single-family homes that meet demand from middle-class families and retirees. Though rents and home prices are getting more expensive, pricing some people out.

Conclusion: Menifee’s Emergence and Appeal

In summary, Menifee has undergone a remarkable demographic transformation from a sleepy rural town to a highly desirable city over the past three decades.

Its family-friendly character, mature retirement communities, economic opportunity and (until recently) affordable housing costs fueled tremendous growth.

Today, Menifee has nearly 100,000 residents and remains one of the fastest-growing cities in California. The demographics illustrate both middle-class families and senior citizens find Menifee very livable.

It offers good schools, recreation and social services to raise kids. Plus healthcare facilities, senior centers and pleasant neighborhoods for retirement.

As the city builds on its civic amenities, its popularity should only increase more. People likely will keep flocking to live in this now vibrant part of Riverside County for years to come.