© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Blythe.
About
Life in Blythe
Life in Blythe means embracing the trade-offs that come with living in a small desert community—you get affordability and genuine small-town rootedness, but you're also signing up for serious heat and isolation from major job centers. The job market here is tight; the area is agricultural and built around water rights tied to the Colorado River, so unless you're in farming, retail, or service work, you're likely looking at a significant commute or remote work—though at least most local trips average just 17 minutes. The community itself is diverse and rooted: a strong Latino population (41% speak Spanish at home), plenty of multi-generational families (about 38% of households have kids), and a real sense of people who've chosen to stay rather than pass through.
Blythe at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.9%
Foreign-Born
17.4%
Broadband Internet
88.5%
of households
Population Growth
-17.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Blythe: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Blythe, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (78.0%), and 38.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.3%
of residents
65 and Older
10.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.4%
of households
Married Couples
42.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.79
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 54% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Blythe
In Blythe, rent runs 54% below the CA average, and home values are 69% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
106.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,830
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1980
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $212,762 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Blythe and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Riverside County, which includes Blythe, is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Blythe: Riverside County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Riverside County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Blythe is less than 1% of Riverside County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Blythe 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
Commute19 min avg
How Blythe residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Blythe, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 66 mi
Yuma International Airport / Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (YUM)
Regional airport · few flights86k passengers boarded in 2025
- 149 mi
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Major hub25.1M 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 55% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Blythe runs 55% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
511.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
499.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Blythe Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 34 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Riverside County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Riverside County, which includes Blythe, the most common type is high wind, with 34 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | High Wind | $161,000 |
| 2024 | 62 | High Wind | $527,000 |
| 2023 | 76 | High Wind | $455,000 |
| 2022 | 113 | High Wind | $240,000 |
| 2021 | 94 | High Wind | $4.2M |
| 2020 | 58 | Excessive Heat | $2.1M |
| 2019 | 62 | Excessive Heat | $112.2M |
| 2018 | 58 | High Wind | $1.6M |
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.
148 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Riverside County, county-wide
Blythe is less than 1% of Riverside County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality80 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Riverside County, which includes Blythe, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
80
Good Days
39
per year
Moderate Days
217
per year
Unhealthy Days
34
per year
Riverside County, county-wide
Blythe is less than 1% of Riverside County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate108°F summers, 41°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Blythe has hot summers (avg high 108°F) and mild winters (avg low 41°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
89°/56°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
108°/76°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
91°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
70°/41°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
3.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
188
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
9
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
15
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69°F | 40°F | 0.57" |
| Feb | 73°F | 43°F | 0.64" |
| Mar | 81°F | 49°F | 0.42" |
| Apr | 89°F | 55°F | 0.12" |
| May | 98°F | 63°F | 0.07" |
| Jun | 106°F | 71°F | 0.00" |
| Jul | 110°F | 78°F | 0.18" |
| Aug | 109°F | 78°F | 0.35" |
| Sep | 104°F | 71°F | 0.38" |
| Oct | 91°F | 57°F | 0.22" |
| Nov | 78°F | 47°F | 0.16" |
| Dec | 66°F | 38°F | 0.50" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Blythe
Blythe has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.5%
of residents
Palo Verde Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals
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.
Education22.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Blythe
Blythe's student/teacher ratio is 22.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 8.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
8.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Joshua Tree National Park, 73 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Blythe
Blythe has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Joshua Tree National Park (73 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Joshua Tree National Park
National Park
73 mi awayPublic Libraries in Blythe
Palo Verde Valley Library District
125 W. Chanslorway, Blythe
Cities Near Blythe
The closest cities within 60 miles
No other cities we cover are within 60 miles of Blythe.
Planning a move to Blythe?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Blythe FAQ
Is Blythe, California affordable?⌄
Blythe's median rent is $938/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $56,625/year. Median home value is $225,000.
Is Blythe, California safe?⌄
Blythe's violent crime rate was 511 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 500 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Blythe, California?⌄
Riverside County, which includes Blythe, has an unemployment rate of 5.6%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Blythe, California?⌄
The cost of living in Blythe is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $938/month and median household income is $56,625/year. The median home value is $225,000. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Blythe, California?⌄
The average commute in Blythe is 19 minutes, which is shorter 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