Quality of Life

Combining a rich Western flavor and heritage with world-class amenities, Colton is a future-forward city deeply rooted in traditional values that promote a higher quality of life and work. Enjoy the charm and friendliness of a small town, as well as significantly lower costs, in an easily accessible location just 40 miles from San Bernardino.
Colton means measurably higher satisfaction through:

According to Best Places, Colton’s overall cost of living is 20.9% lower than the California average, with housing prices 38.4% less expensive than the California average. Renting is also 27.2% cheaper than the California average. In Colton, your family will have easy access to all of the region’s premier entertainment and recreational amenities, and still leave plenty of room in your budget.

High-quality K-12 education results in college- and career-ready high school graduates who find a world of opportunity ahead of them. At the local San Bernardino Community College, multiple pathways—from art to science, engineering and math to manufacturing and more—as well as a variety of degrees and certifications allow students to reach their desired life goals, and all at affordable tuition costs. More than 80 other colleges within 50 miles include UC Riverside (just 5 miles away), Cal State Fullerton and Cal State San Bernardino. Just 22 miles away, premiere private schools include Harvey Mudd and Pomona College.

A center of healthcare excellence and training, Colton is home to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) and Loma Linda Hospital. A 456-bed county-owned facility, ARMC provides a full spectrum of more than a dozen healthcare services, including the only burn center in the region; the Medical Center was the first in the County to offer primary stroke care and the first in the nation to use digital radiology. ARMC also operates seven medical residency programs as the primary teaching hospital for California University of Science and Medicine. Every year, more than 1.5 million patients visit Loma Linda University Health, where pioneering care included the world's first proton unit used for cancer treatment and pediatric care that ultimately led to the world’s first infant heart transplant; Loma Linda is also California’s sole children’s hospital.

Colton is just the ticket for starring recreational attractions, like exciting major league action (think Lakers and Dodgers) or the exhilarating rides of Disneyland less than an hour away.  And with 340 days of sunshine, wherever you look you’ll discover more places to play and enjoy the gorgeous outdoors of the region, from the views at Griffith Park to the stunning vistas of the Joshua Tree National Forest. In the winter, take to the slopes for skiing, snowboarding and even half-pipe at Big Bear Resort; in the summer and fall, Big Bear Lake is the perfect arena for fishing, boating, jet-skiing and kayaking. San Bernardino County has 2.5 million acres of recreational land; it’s your all-season playground for a lifetime.

Colton’s colorful Old West history explored by the Colton Area Museum in the stately former Carnegie Library. World-renowned masterpieces in the Getty Museum. The starry panoramas of the Griffith Observatory, or top musical stars appearing at San Bernardino’s Glen Helen Amphitheater, the nation’s largest outdoor concert venue. There’s always something to engage and enlighten in Colton.

California lifestyle without California costs

According to Best Places, Colton’s overall cost of living is 20.9% lower than the California average, with housing prices 38.4% less expensive than the California average. Renting is also 27.2% cheaper than the California average. In Colton, your family will have easy access to all of the region’s premier entertainment and recreational amenities, and still leave plenty of room in your budget.


Education that opens more doors

High-quality K-12 education results in college- and career-ready high school graduates who find a world of opportunity ahead of them. At the local San Bernardino Community College, multiple pathways—from art to science, engineering and math to manufacturing and more—as well as a variety of degrees and certifications allow students to reach their desired life goals, and all at affordable tuition costs. More than 80 other colleges within 50 miles include UC Riverside (just 5 miles away), Cal State Fullerton and Cal State San Bernardino. Just 22 miles away, premiere private schools include Harvey Mudd and Pomona College.


Life-enhancing healthcare from world-changing providers

A center of healthcare excellence and training, Colton is home to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) and Loma Linda Hospital. A 456-bed county-owned facility, ARMC provides a full spectrum of more than a dozen healthcare services, including the only burn center in the region; the Medical Center was the first in the County to offer primary stroke care and the first in the nation to use digital radiology. ARMC also operates seven medical residency programs as the primary teaching hospital for California University of Science and Medicine. Every year, more than 1.5 million patients visit Loma Linda University Health, where pioneering care included the world's first proton unit used for cancer treatment and pediatric care that ultimately led to the world’s first infant heart transplant; Loma Linda is also California’s sole children’s hospital.


Renowned recreation for relaxing, recharging

Colton is just the ticket for starring recreational attractions, like exciting major league action (think Lakers and Dodgers) or the exhilarating rides of Disneyland less than an hour away.  And with 340 days of sunshine, wherever you look you’ll discover more places to play and enjoy the gorgeous outdoors of the region, from the views at Griffith Park to the stunning vistas of the Joshua Tree National Forest. In the winter, take to the slopes for skiing, snowboarding and even half-pipe at Big Bear Resort; in the summer and fall, Big Bear Lake is the perfect arena for fishing, boating, jet-skiing and kayaking. San Bernardino County has 2.5 million acres of recreational land; it’s your all-season playground for a lifetime.


Inviting culture

Colton’s colorful Old West history explored by the Colton Area Museum in the stately former Carnegie Library. World-renowned masterpieces in the Getty Museum. The starry panoramas of the Griffith Observatory, or top musical stars appearing at San Bernardino’s Glen Helen Amphitheater, the nation’s largest outdoor concert venue. There’s always something to engage and enlighten in Colton.