A semi-rural but fast-growing town in SoCal's High Desert
In California's High Desert region, within the Victor Valley, the town of Apple Valley is just northwest of the city of Victorville, at the junction of Interstate 15 and State Route 18. Amid the Mojave Desert and the gentle slopes of the Ord Mountains, Apple Valley retains a semi-rural character, with homes and ranches on spacious lots. That character is changing fast, though, as relatively low home prices increasingly attract buyers from throughout Southern California. Apple Valley is within 60 miles of the Inland Empire and 90 miles of Los Angeles.
Apple Valley was a center of apple farming from the late 1800s through the 1940s, but today its major employers include Edwards Air Force Base to the north, as well as the local Southern California Logistics Airport and Walmart Distribution Center. More residents and employers are expected with the 2028 completion of the Brightline high-speed rail, which will connect Apple Valley with Las Vegas in under 2 hours, and provide quick access to Inland Empire cities and the Metrolink rail.
Apple Valley is northwest of the city of Victorville, at the junction of I-15 and Route 18.
Apple Valley residents enjoy semi rural lifestyle with homes on large lots.
Walmart Distribution Center is one of the major employers in Apple Valley.
Apple Valley Town Square brings the community together or a warm day.
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Single-family and manufactured homes, plus plenty of land
The median home price in Apple Valley is $440,000, compared to $500,000 in San Bernardino, about $660,000 in Riverside and almost $1.1 million in Los Angeles. Homes here are generally single-family or manufactured, and construction in ongoing.
Most single-family homes in Apple Valley were built between the late 1970s and 2010s, are set on lots of roughly 1 acre, and have three to five bedrooms in 2,000 to 3,000 square feet. Single-level homes are the most common, usually with a Spanish-style barrel-tile roof, a two- or three-car attached garage, and room to park an RV. Some have two or three stories, brick exteriors, backyard pools and/or steeply gabled porticoes, and some are set on the neighborhood's golf course. Prices range from $500,000 to $700,000.
Manufactured homes are found within mobile home communities like Los Ranchos, which has an HOA and shared amenities like a pool and fitness center. Double-wide models built in the early 2000s have two to four bedrooms in 1,100 to 1,700 square feet, and prices range from about $100,000 to $130,000. Multi-unit rental properties built in the 1970s and '80s tend to have four to six apartments and range from $600,000 to $750,000. Undeveloped lots of about a half-acre to 3 acres are plentiful, and range from about $80,000 to $300,000.
Spanish style homes with drought resistant landscaping is a common sight in Apple Valley.
Apple Valley residents will find Spanish style homes ranging from $400,000 and $700,000.
Apple Valley has plenty of land for custom builds.
Vista Del Rosa is a gated mobile home community with amenities such as a pool and tennis court.
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Shopping and dining near Route 18
Locals do most of their shopping and dining along Bear Valley Road and at shopping centers near Route 18. Apple Valley Commons includes a Super Target, and Jess Ranch Marketplace has more than 50 stores, lots of local eateries and a multi-screen Cinemark Theater. "Apple Valley and Victorville have the most shopping and dining options in Victor Valley," says Fidel Carranza, Victor Valley resident and Broker with Century 21 Desert Rock. "People come here for the shopping and usually Victorville the dining."
Town's End Still House is a popular place to eat and come for a drink with live music.
Stater Bros is considered the "neighborhood" super market since there's always one nearby.
Viva Maria is a great place for Mexican food at a nice sit down style restaurant.
Apple Valley Commons includes a Super Target along Route 18.
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B-rated high schools
The Apple Valley Unified School District encompasses 15 schools and earns an overall B from Niche. The district's highest rated schools are Apple Valley High and Granite Hills High, both of which earn a B-plus.
A grand mural adorn the buildings of Granite Hills High.
Apple Valley High School sports field.
Desert Knolls Elementary School entrance.
Sycamore Rocks Elementary School in Apple Valley.
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Apple Valley Golf, rugged trails and community events
Apple Valley is popular for mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking on routes like the 5-mile Arrastre Falls Trail, which leads to rock structures and ravines. The public, 18-hole course at Apple Valley Golf has been open since 1948, and was a favorite of celebrity couple Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. “I like to show new residents Roy Rogers' house, because it’s a cool fun fact that he used to live here,” says Karen Sanchez, a broker and Realtor with Reputable Realty who's been in real estate since 2007. Route 18 is locally nicknamed “Happy Trails,” after Rogers’ most popular song.
Apple Valley has a long list of annual community events, from 5Ks to flea markets. Many events are held at Civic Center Park off Dale Evans Parkway, like Concerts in the Courtyard in the spring and the Sunset Concert series in the summer. Come wintertime, many locals go skiing at Big Bear Lake, 40 miles away.
The public, 18-hole course at Apple Valley Golf has been open since 1948.
Concerts in the Courtyard is a great place for friends to come together and dance to live music.
There are popular rock formation attracts rock climbers in Apple Valley.
Apple Valley Sunset Concert Series happens weekly every summer bringing live music and fun.
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Interstate 15 leads to the Inland Empire, L.A. and Las Vegas
Interstate 15 leads about 50 miles to San Bernardino, 60 miles to Riverside, 90 miles to Los Angeles and 190 miles to Las Vegas. Most residents here get around by car, but the town is also served by Omnitrans Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) buses. San Bernardino International Airport is 50 miles away, and despite its name, only serves domestic flights on one carrier, Breeze Airways; the larger Ontario International Airport is about 55 miles away. St. Mary Regional Medical Center is Apple Valley's largest hospital.
Lower crime rates than in California and the U.S.
According to FBI Crime Data, Apple Valley's average rate of violent crime reported in December 2023 was 76 incidents per 100,000 residents, lower than 98 in California and 119 in the United States. That same month, its average rate of reported property crime was 165 incidents per 100,000 residents, lower than 195 in California and 180 in the U.S.
Lack of rain in the desert leads to challenges
Apple Valley can experience significant droughts, so San Bernardino County instructs residents to cut back on their water use, especially during periods of drought. The San Bernardino Mountains are just a few miles away, and at severe risk of wildfires during the High Desert region's hot, dry summers. To mitigate local fires, Apple Valley residents are required to keep their properties clear of desert brush and combustible debris; the Apple Valley Fire Department performs annual inspections and gives residents 30 days' notice if something has to be removed.
Apple Valley has many modern homes with solar panels.
Apple Valley has amazing desert scenery.
Deep Creek is a great place for a hike or just watching nature.
Apple Valley has incredible desert views with rocky hills and mountains.
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Written By
Braxton Chea
Photography Contributed By
Michael Ng
Video By
Jeffrey Knight
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Mike Weller,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Apple Valley, CA sell after 47 days on the market compared to the national average of 51 days. The median sale price for homes in Apple Valley, CA over the last 12 months is $435,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Cecilie NelsonBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
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