Is Lake Mathews Safe, Pros and cons of living in Lake Mathews
Is it Safe to Live in Lake Mathews?
Lake Mathews presents a mixed safety profile, with overall crime rates being slightly lower than the national average, though specific areas may experience higher incident numbers. The violent crime rate stands at 2.359 per 1,000 residents, which is lower than the national average (according to CrimeGrade.org). Residents often perceive the southern part of Lake Mathews as the safest area within the community (according to CrimeGrade.org). Your likelihood of being a victim of crime can vary significantly by neighborhood, with chances ranging from 1 in 34 in the southeast to 1 in 77 in the south (according to CrimeGrade.org).
While the overall crime rate in Lake Mathews is considered lower than the average U.S. city, earning it a B grade for safety, it is important to note that it ranks in the 66th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 66% of cities but less safe than 34% (according to CrimeGrade.org). The projected cost of crime in Lake Mathews for 2025 is estimated at $1,221,643, which breaks down to approximately $294 per resident and $1,055 per household (according to CrimeGrade.org). These figures represent tangible costs, including criminal justice expenses, direct victim costs, and lost economic contributions from offenders (according to CrimeGrade.org).
Housing Costs in Lake Mathews
The housing market in Lake Mathews is characterized by a median home value that is significantly higher than the national average. As of March 2026, the median home price was $750,000, reflecting an 11.8% decrease compared to the previous year (according to Redfin). However, other sources indicate a median home value of $615,700 (according to Kurby AI) and $760,900 (according to Niche). The median rent in Lake Mathews is also above the national median, with figures reported around $1,866 per month (according to Niche and WorldWeatherOnline).
A substantial majority of residents in Lake Mathews own their homes. Approximately 79.7% of households are owner-occupied, with a homeowner vacancy rate of 0.2% (according to Wikipedia). This high rate of homeownership suggests a stable community. The median gross rent is reported at $1,866 per month (according to Niche), and the rent-to-income ratio for renters is approximately 23.9% (according to Point2Homes).
The median home value in Lake Mathews has seen some fluctuations. While Redfin reported a median sale price of $750K in March 2026, other sources indicate figures like $615,700 (according to Kurby AI) and $760,900 (according to Niche). NeighborhoodScout places the median real estate price even higher at $948,337, noting it’s more expensive than most neighborhoods in California and the U.S. (according to NeighborhoodScout).
Job Market and Economy
The job market in Lake Mathews has experienced a decline in employment in recent years. From 2023 to 2024, employment in Lake Mathews declined by 10.4%, with the number of employees dropping from 2,520 to 2,260 (according to Data USA). The most common job sectors for residents include Educational Services, Construction, and Health Care & Social Assistance (according to Data USA). The average salary in Lake Mathews is reported as $26.83 per hour or $55,809 per year as of May 2026 (according to ZipRecruiter).
The median household income in Lake Mathews was $115,926 in 2024, which marked a -10.6% change from the previous year (according to the U.S. Census Bureau via Point2Homes). Other sources provide a median income of $94,444 (according to Point2Homes and Data Commons) or $102,537 (according to Kurby AI). A notable portion of families, 4.4%, live below the poverty line (according to Data Commons).
Major employers in the broader Riverside County area include Amazon, March Air Reserve Base, Nestle UA, and the University of California, Riverside (according to the County of Riverside). While specific major employers within Lake Mathews are not detailed, these larger regional entities likely influence the local economy. The unemployment rate for Riverside County was 4.2% in 2019 (according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED), indicating a relatively stable job market in the surrounding region.
Climate in Lake Mathews
Lake Mathews experiences a climate characterized by warm summers and mild winters, with generally pleasant weather for a significant portion of the year. Throughout the year, temperatures typically range from a low of 41°F to a high of 97°F (according to myPerfectWeather). The average annual rainfall is around 12 inches, with most precipitation occurring in the winter months (according to myPerfectWeather).
August is generally the hottest month, with average high temperatures around 96°F and lows of 64°F. Conversely, December sees the lowest temperatures, with average highs of 67°F and lows of 42°F (according to myPerfectWeather). The area enjoys a substantial amount of sunshine, with approximately 3,647.9 hours of sunlight annually (according to myPerfectWeather). The humidity level remains comfortable during the summer, contributing to a pleasant environment (according to myPerfectWeather).
Lake Mathews has about 246 days, or 8.1 months, of comfortable weather per year. The ideal times to visit or enjoy outdoor activities are generally from January to May and mid-October to December. Comfortable weather is defined by daily high temperatures between 65ºF and 86ºF, low humidity, and moderate cloud cover and wind speeds (according to myPerfectWeather).
Education in Lake Mathews
Lake Mathews Elementary School serves students from Kindergarten to 6th grade and is part of the Riverside Unified School District. The school is highly rated, with a Niche grade of A- and a GreatSchools Rating of 8 out of 10 (according to Homes.com). Academic proficiency at Lake Mathews Elementary shows that 50% of students achieve proficiency in math and 61% in reading (according to Homes.com).
More recent data indicates that Lake Mathews Elementary ranks within the top 20% of all schools in California for overall test scores. Math proficiency is in the top 20%, and reading proficiency is in the top 20% (according to National Center for Education Statistics, CA Dept. of Education). The student-teacher ratio is 27:1, which is higher than the California state average of 21:1 (according to National Center for Education Statistics, CA Dept. of Education).
The student population at Lake Mathews Elementary is diverse, with a minority enrollment of 75% (according to National Center for Education Statistics, CA Dept. of Education). The school’s diversity score is 0.69, which is slightly higher than the state average of 0.63 (according to National Center for Education Statistics, CA Dept. of Education). Approximately 45% of students receive free or discounted lunch, indicating a significant portion of the student body comes from lower socioeconomic backgrounds (according to SchoolDigger).
Demographics of Lake Mathews
Lake Mathews is home to approximately 6,527 residents, with a median age of 40.3 years (according to Data Commons and Point2Homes). The population is distributed across various age groups, with about 20.7% under 15, 12.8% between 15 and 24, 20% between 25 and 44, 26.2% between 45 and 64, and 20.2% aged 65 and older (according to Point2Homes).
The racial makeup of Lake Mathews shows a significant Hispanic population, making up 45.7% of residents, followed by White at 36.7%, and Black at 10.6% (according to Data Commons). Citizenship status indicates that 88.4% of residents are citizens, which is slightly lower than the national average (according to Data USA). The foreign-born population is approximately 17.8%, which is comparable to the national average (according to Data USA).
Regarding household composition, Lake Mathews has about 1,630 households, with an average of 4 members per household (according to Point2Homes). A large majority, 82.8%, are family households, while 17.2% are individuals living alone or with non-relatives (according to Point2Homes). The median age of 40.3 years suggests a community with a mix of established families and older residents (according to Data Commons).