© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Big Bear City.
Big Bear City is an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County, CA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Big Bear City
Big Bear City is a community of 12,493 people in California. The median household income is $71,511, median rent runs about $1,854 per month, and median home values are around $463,500. The unemployment rate is 5.4%.
Big Bear City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
47.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.1%
Foreign-Born
6.5%
Broadband Internet
97.2%
of households
Population Growth
-7.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Big Bear City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Big Bear City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (36.1%), and 7.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
18.7%
of residents
65 and Older
23.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
33.2%
of households
Married Couples
40.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.17
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 9% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Big Bear City
In Big Bear City, rent runs 9% below the CA average, and home values are 37% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
106.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,625
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
57.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $381,323 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Big Bear City and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in San Bernardino County, which includes Big Bear City, is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Big Bear City: San Bernardino County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
San Bernardino County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Big Bear City is less than 1% of San Bernardino County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Big Bear City 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
Commute24.9 min avg
How Big Bear City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Big Bear City, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 80% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 mi
San Bernardino International Airport (SBD)
Regional airport · few flights26k passengers boarded in 2025
- 41 mi
Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Medium hub3.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 88 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 35% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office, which covers Big Bear City, runs 35% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
444.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,113.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 Big Bear City, 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.
189 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Bernardino County, county-wide
Big Bear City is less than 1% 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 Big Bear City, 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
Big Bear City is less than 1% of San Bernardino County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate78°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Big Bear City has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/32°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/48°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/36°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
46°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
20.0"
Annual Snowfall
58.6"
Hot Days/Year
1
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
176
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
43
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 24°F | 4.51" |
| Feb | 46°F | 24°F | 4.39" |
| Mar | 51°F | 27°F | 2.37" |
| Apr | 57°F | 31°F | 0.78" |
| May | 66°F | 37°F | 0.42" |
| Jun | 75°F | 44°F | 0.15" |
| Jul | 80°F | 51°F | 0.69" |
| Aug | 79°F | 50°F | 0.82" |
| Sep | 73°F | 44°F | 0.40" |
| Oct | 63°F | 35°F | 0.79" |
| Nov | 54°F | 28°F | 1.35" |
| Dec | 46°F | 24°F | 3.31" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Big Bear City
Uninsured
11.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Big Bear City's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Bear Valley Community Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 2.7 mi away · Big Bear Lake
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.
Education20.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Big Bear City
Big Bear City's student/teacher ratio is 20.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 30.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, 34 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Big Bear City
Big Bear City has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (34 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
34 mi awayJoshua Tree National Park
National Park
62 mi awayMojave National Preserve
National Preserve
96 mi awayCities Near Big Bear City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Big Bear City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Big Bear City FAQ
Is Big Bear City, California affordable?⌄
Big Bear City's median rent is $1,854/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $71,511/year. Median home value is $463,500.
Is Big Bear City, California safe?⌄
Big Bear City is policed by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 444 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1113 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Big Bear City, California?⌄
San Bernardino County, which includes Big Bear City, has an unemployment rate of 5.4%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Big Bear City, California?⌄
The cost of living in Big Bear City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,854/month and median household income is $71,511/year. The median home value is $463,500. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Big Bear City, California?⌄
The average commute in Big Bear City is 25 minutes, which is about 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