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Living in
Apple Valley.
About
Life in Apple Valley
Apple Valley works best if you're looking for affordable suburban living in the high desert with a fairly stable job market, but you need to be realistic about what comes with it. The cost of living is genuinely lower than California's state median—homes average around $407,000 and rent around $1,444—which means your money stretches further, especially if you're coming from coastal areas. The unemployment rate sits at 6.8%, which is reasonable, though most job opportunities will require commuting; expect 41 minutes average to get somewhere meaningful for work.
Apple Valley at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.6%
Foreign-Born
11.2%
Broadband Internet
94.0%
of households
Population Growth
-0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Apple Valley: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Apple Valley, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (49.7%), and 22.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.6%
of residents
65 and Older
18.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.4%
of households
Married Couples
52.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.98
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 29% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Apple Valley
In Apple Valley, rent runs 29% below the CA average, and home values are 45% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
106.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,772
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
69.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1987
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $431,962 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.3 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Apple Valley and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Apple Valley is 1.3 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Apple Valley Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area
Commute41.1 min avg
How Apple Valley residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Apple Valley, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 55% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 28 mi
San Bernardino International Airport (SBD)
Regional airport · few flights26k passengers boarded in 2025
- 39 mi
Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Medium hub3.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 79 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 47% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Apple Valley runs 47% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
485.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,375.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Apple Valley Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 61 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Bernardino County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Bernardino County, which includes Apple Valley, the most common type is high wind, with 61 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 61 | Flash Flood | $4.8M |
| 2024 | 86 | High Wind | $16.4M |
| 2023 | 106 | High Wind | $4.0M |
| 2022 | 123 | High Wind | $12.1M |
| 2021 | 113 | Excessive Heat | $293,000 |
| 2020 | 78 | Excessive Heat | $298,000 |
| 2019 | 99 | Excessive Heat | $6.3M |
| 2018 | 66 | Flash Flood | $1.3M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
194 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Bernardino County, county-wide
Apple Valley is about 3% of San Bernardino County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality77 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in San Bernardino County, which includes Apple Valley, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
77
Good Days
46
per year
Moderate Days
209
per year
Unhealthy Days
43
per year
San Bernardino County, county-wide
Apple Valley is about 3% of San Bernardino County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate95°F summers, 34°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Apple Valley has hot summers (avg high 95°F) and mild winters (avg low 34°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
95°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/34°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
7.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
119
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
54
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
25
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 33°F | 0.97" |
| Feb | 61°F | 36°F | 1.27" |
| Mar | 67°F | 40°F | 0.78" |
| Apr | 73°F | 44°F | 0.33" |
| May | 81°F | 51°F | 0.09" |
| Jun | 91°F | 58°F | 0.04" |
| Jul | 98°F | 64°F | 0.22" |
| Aug | 97°F | 63°F | 0.11" |
| Sep | 91°F | 58°F | 0.16" |
| Oct | 79°F | 47°F | 0.31" |
| Nov | 67°F | 38°F | 0.35" |
| Dec | 57°F | 33°F | 0.94" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Apple Valley
Apple Valley has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Providence St Mary Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Victor Valley Global Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.7 mi away · Victorville
Desert Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Victorville
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education23.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Apple Valley
Apple Valley's student/teacher ratio is 23.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 18.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Apple Valley (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 4,210 students · in-state tuition $1,449 · 33% graduate · median earnings $39,827 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, 46 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Apple Valley
Apple Valley has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (46 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
46 mi awayJoshua Tree National Park
National Park
89 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
90 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
94 mi awayPublic Libraries in Apple Valley
Newton T. Bass Apple Valley Branch Library
14901 Dale Evans Parkway, Apple Valley
Cities Near Apple Valley
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Apple Valley?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Apple Valley FAQ
Is Apple Valley, California affordable?⌄
Apple Valley's median rent is $1,444/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $69,882/year. Median home value is $407,400.
Is Apple Valley, California safe?⌄
Apple Valley's violent crime rate was 485 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1375 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Apple Valley, California?⌄
Apple Valley has an unemployment rate of 6.8%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Apple Valley, California?⌄
The cost of living in Apple Valley is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,444/month and median household income is $69,882/year. The median home value is $407,400. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Apple Valley, California?⌄
The average commute in Apple Valley is 41 minutes, which is significantly longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from