About
Life in Chula Vista
Chula Vista is a sprawling, diverse city that sits in the sweet spot between affordability and proximity to San Diego—just 7.5 miles from downtown, but with a distinctly different vibe. The Latino community makes up nearly 65% of the population, giving the city a vibrant cultural identity that shapes everything from local restaurants and festivals to neighborhood character, and you'll find pockets of Asian, German, and Irish heritage woven throughout as well. The climate is genuinely mild year-round—winter lows average 57°F and summer nights hover around 72°F—though summer heat can push past 100°F and the semi-arid landscape means you're not escaping the Southern California car culture, with an average commute around 28 minutes.
Chula Vista at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.7%
Foreign-Born
29.4%
Broadband Internet
94.7%
of households
Population Growth
0.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics29.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Chula Vista: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Chula Vista, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (63.2%), and 46.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.5%
of residents
65 and Older
13.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
41.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
16.4%
of households
Married Couples
57.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.20
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% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Chula Vista
In Chula Vista, rent runs 9% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,058
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1987
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $845,328 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Chula Vista and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Chula Vista is 0.6 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Chula Vista Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metro area
Commute28.6 min avg
How Chula Vista residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Chula Vista, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 56% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Major hub12.7M 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 11% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Chula Vista runs 11% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
365.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,061.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Chula Vista Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Diego County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Diego County, which includes Chula Vista, the most common type is high wind, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Heavy Rain | $110,000 |
| 2024 | 56 | High Wind | $30.9M |
| 2023 | 67 | High Wind | $13,000 |
| 2022 | 92 | High Wind | $11,000 |
| 2021 | 93 | High Wind | $4.2M |
| 2020 | 56 | High Wind | $4.5M |
| 2019 | 69 | High Wind | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 42 | High Wind | $680,100 |
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.
185 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Diego County, county-wide
Air Quality67 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in San Diego County, which includes Chula Vista, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
67
Good Days
64
per year
Moderate Days
268
per year
Unhealthy Days
7
per year
San Diego County, county-wide
Climate78°F summers, 44°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Chula Vista has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and mild winters (avg low 44°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
70°/51°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
76°/55°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
67°/44°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
11.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
52
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67°F | 44°F | 1.83" |
| Feb | 66°F | 45°F | 2.39" |
| Mar | 68°F | 47°F | 1.52" |
| Apr | 70°F | 50°F | 0.80" |
| May | 71°F | 54°F | 0.27" |
| Jun | 74°F | 58°F | 0.10" |
| Jul | 78°F | 62°F | 0.04" |
| Aug | 81°F | 63°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 80°F | 61°F | 0.18" |
| Oct | 77°F | 55°F | 0.44" |
| Nov | 72°F | 49°F | 0.83" |
| Dec | 67°F | 44°F | 1.82" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Chula Vista
Chula Vista has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Paradise Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · National City
Sharp Coronado Hospital and Hlthcr Ctr
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10 mi away · Coronado
Nmc San Diego
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 10.1 mi away · San Diego
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.
Education22.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Chula Vista
Chula Vista's student/teacher ratio is 22.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 33.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
70
within city limits
Private Schools
12
within city limits
College Degree Rate
33.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Chula Vista
Public · 2-year · 18,614 students · in-state tuition $1,356 · 31% graduate · median earnings $47,535 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 35,377 students · in-state tuition $9,180 · 83% graduate · median earnings $73,494 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 12,163 students · in-state tuition $1,332 · 28% graduate · median earnings $45,404 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,441 students · in-state tuition $1,154 · 21% graduate · median earnings $44,127 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,177 students · in-state tuition $1,340 · 25% graduate · median earnings $45,171 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,671 students · in-state tuition $62,420 · 82% graduate · median earnings $93,069 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 636 students · median earnings $46,721 (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: Cabrillo National Monument, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Chula Vista
Chula Vista has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cabrillo National Monument (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cabrillo National Monument
National Monument
14 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Chula Vista
Civic Center Branch
365 F St., Chula Vista
Bonita-Sunnyside Library
4375 Bonita Rd, Bonita
Otay Ranch Library
2015 Birch Rd, Chula Vista
South Chula Vista Library
389 Orange Avenue, Chula Vista
Cities Near Chula Vista
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Chula Vista?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Chula Vista FAQ
Is Chula Vista, California affordable?⌄
Chula Vista's median rent is $2,229/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $108,032/year. Median home value is $758,700.
Is Chula Vista, California safe?⌄
Chula Vista's violent crime rate was 365 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1062 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Chula Vista, California?⌄
Chula Vista has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Chula Vista, California?⌄
The cost of living in Chula Vista is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,229/month and median household income is $108,032/year. The median home value is $758,700. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Chula Vista, California?⌄
The average commute in Chula Vista is 29 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