Discover the Communities of Victor Valley, CA
The town and cities that make up the Victor Valley offer appealing assets and amenities.
Victor Valley, CA, nestled in the High Desert area, is home to the communities of Adelanto, Apple Valley, Barstow, Hesperia and Victorville. The region offers an affordable housing market, proximity to major cities like Los Angeles, a thriving job market and plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation – in other words, the best of SoCal living without the hefty price tag.
Residents are drawn to the Victor Valley’s welcoming community, ample housing in diverse neighborhoods, beautiful public spaces and involved locals. It’s a hub for manufacturing and distributing, and fans of outdoor adventure love that it’s close to Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead and the stunning Pacific Crest Trail.
While California’s average home price is a whopping $738,000, homes in Victorville are roughly half that, according to Zillow, and new homes are being built throughout the region, giving the area an advantage to those looking to move. With a growing population of more than 450,000 residents, the future is bright for people living and working in the Victor Valley.
In This Article
Adelanto
Adelanto translates to “progress” in English, and that’s what the city is busy doing – advancing on civil projects large and small. Last year, the city received $2.8 million from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, which it’s using to establish a new park that includes a playground, a splash pad, a picnic area, basketball courts, exercise equipment and walking paths.
“Adelanto’s motto is ‘The City with Unlimited Possibilities,’ and that’s just what it is,” says Leslie Hurtado, who moved to the city in 2016 to retire. “Adelanto is an up-and-coming city, it’s very community driven. We have lots of nonprofits and ways to be involved. We’re getting new parks, road improvements, new housing developments and new businesses are coming in.”
Though the city is changing, those who call it home enjoy a slower-paced, more rural lifestyle. As the Victor Valley’s smallest community, it only has 38,000 residents. On the edge of the former George Air Force Base (now Southern California Logistics Airport), it is about 3,000 feet above sea level, with hot summers and little rain. It’s home to 27,275 acres of recreational area at El Mirage, where motorcyclists, ATVs, buggies, land yachts, model rockets and airplanes, and parasailers flock.
Community Events & Festivals
- Every June is when the High Desert Juneteenth Freedom Fest arrives at Adelanto Stadium & Event Center to mark the anniversary of the end of slavery in America. Activities include live music, dance performances, food vendors and educational booths, and attendees are encouraged to learn more about Black history, culture and achievements as well as connect with local groups and businesses. A month later in July, Adelanto Stadium & Event Center hosts the Adelanto Summer Truck Fest. Attractions include car cruises, live music, prizes and unusual competitions, including one for the longest car tire burnouts.
Apple Valley
Big changes are on the horizon in Apple Valley, thanks to the new Brightline West high-speed rail line being constructed to connect Las Vegas to Los Angeles. The project, which will include stops in Apple Valley and Hesperia, will be complete by 2026 and is expected to not only bring new residents who can commute to Los Angeles without having to live in the city’s expensive limits, but generate thousands of jobs.
Apple Valley is a charming city known for its natural beauty and recreational opportunities as well as its diversity and cultural history, which is on display at the Victor Valley Museum. The area is home to many independent businesses and restaurants.
Apple Valley has several parks with hiking trails, including Horsemen’s Center Park, which stretches approximately 80 acres and includes equestrian spaces.
Community Events & Festivals
- In mid-July, Apple Valley hosts the annual Market 760 Food Festival, billed as the biggest food festival in the High Desert. The Saturday extravaganza features dozens of food trucks whose owners sell their products and compete for prizes at The Market at Town’s End. Late October is when an Off The Grid Campout arrives for three days in Apple Valley. Sirius Ranch is the place for events, such as live art demonstrations, fire performers, art cars, comedy acts, dance troupes, live bands and a vendor village.
Hesperia
Bustling with over 100,000 residents, Hesperia hosts numerous fun community events, such as summertime movie nights, Hesperia Days and Bobcat’s Summer Concert Series. However, the events aren’t the only thing drawing people to the city.
Hesperia is also known for offering lots of affordable housing options, especially for seniors. The average home value was $427,000 in July 2023 (Zillow). There are a variety of opportunities for housing, including custom-built villas overlooking Hesperia Lake, modern subdivisions with lots of amenities, and large lot residential zoning, where residents can enjoy a rural lifestyle with the benefits of city services.
Community Events & Festivals
- Since 1958, the Hesperia Wranglers family horse club holds events and activities designed to showcase horsemanship to residents of the region. Since 1948, the annual Hesperia Days Parade has arrived on a Saturday morning in mid-September. The parade begins at 9 a.m. and winds along Main Street between I and E avenues, and more than 100 entrants participate in the fun extravaganza. And don’t forget to attend the Hesperia Days Rodeo, which features a variety of competitions and fun activities for all ages.
Victorville
Locals in the Victor Valley love that they have plenty of community organizations to be involved in right in their own backyard. With housing prices about half the cost of those in Los Angeles, the area is seeing major development, but people like Byron Ward, who have lived in the area for the past 25 years, have created a network of people who have allowed him to grow his business locally.
“We like that it’s in the desert and it’s not built up like the Los Angeles basin,” says Ward, owner of HD Art N Frame in Victorville. “I’ve made business contacts and friends through the Greater High Desert Chamber of Commerce, and I’m also a member of the local Lions Club, an international service organization, and the Spring Valley Yacht Club, which is at Spring Lake and works on fundraising for charity, which is a fun group to be involved with.”
Community Events & Festivals
On two weekends in late May and early June, the San Bernardino County Fair arrives at San Bernardino County Fair & Event Center in Victorville. Activities include a home show, livestock events, car competitions, a carnival and concerts. In early October, a large street fair experience is what the annual City of Victorville’s Fall Festival is all about, with many activities occurring in front of City Hall along Civic Drive. The Saturday event features live bands, merchandise vendors, food vendors and a kid zone.
Get to Know Victor Valley, CA
Want to learn more about living and working in Victor Valley, CA? Check out the latest edition of Victor Valley Economic Development.
