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Living in
Colton.
About
Life in Colton
If you're considering Colton, understand that you're looking at a solidly working-class suburban community in the Inland Empire—not a destination city, but a practical place to live if you work nearby or don't mind a commute. The median household income of roughly $70k is modest, and about 15% of the population lives below the poverty line, so affordability is relative; median home prices around $411k and rents near $1,600 are cheaper than coastal Southern California but reflect broader regional trends. The job market here is tied heavily to logistics and transportation, which means opportunities exist but may require looking beyond city limits—the average commute is nearly 29 minutes.
Colton at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.7%
Foreign-Born
25.7%
Broadband Internet
90.8%
of households
Population Growth
-0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics25.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Colton: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Colton, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (74.5%), and 49.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.4%
of residents
65 and Older
11.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.8%
of households
Married Couples
44.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.16
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 18% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Colton
In Colton, rent runs 18% below the CA average, and home values are 40% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
106.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,809
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $496,874 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Colton and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Colton is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Colton 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
Commute27.5 min avg
How Colton residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Colton, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 5 mi
San Bernardino International Airport (SBD)
Regional airport · few flights26k passengers boarded in 2025
- 16 mi
Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Medium hub3.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 63 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Colton is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
344.5
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,872.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Colton 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 Colton, 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.
196 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Bernardino County, county-wide
Colton is about 2% 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 Colton, 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
Colton is about 2% of San Bernardino County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate93°F summers, 44°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Colton has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and mild winters (avg low 44°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/51°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
84°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
70°/44°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
9.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
103
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
2
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
38
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°F | 44°F | 2.11" |
| Feb | 70°F | 45°F | 2.45" |
| Mar | 72°F | 47°F | 1.54" |
| Apr | 75°F | 50°F | 0.57" |
| May | 80°F | 55°F | 0.29" |
| Jun | 87°F | 58°F | 0.08" |
| Jul | 94°F | 63°F | 0.03" |
| Aug | 97°F | 64°F | 0.03" |
| Sep | 93°F | 61°F | 0.23" |
| Oct | 82°F | 55°F | 0.40" |
| Nov | 76°F | 47°F | 0.68" |
| Dec | 69°F | 43°F | 1.51" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Colton
Colton has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
9.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Loma Linda University Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Loma Linda
Loma Linda University Children's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 3.7 mi away · Loma Linda
Loma Linda VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Loma Linda
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.
Education22.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Colton
Colton's student/teacher ratio is 22.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 16.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Colton (within 15 miles)
University of California-Riverside
5.6 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 22,593 students · in-state tuition $16,103 · 79% graduate · median earnings $72,974 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 18,346 students · in-state tuition $1,428 · 29% graduate · median earnings $44,956 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-San Bernardino
8.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 15,023 students · in-state tuition $8,524 · 71% graduate · median earnings $61,951 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 12,234 students · in-state tuition $1,185 · 22% graduate · median earnings $43,912 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 9,346 students · in-state tuition $1,428 · 25% graduate · median earnings $45,741 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 8,179 students · in-state tuition $42,788 · 63% graduate · median earnings $67,633 (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, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Colton
Colton has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
14 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
83 mi awayJoshua Tree National Park
National Park
86 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in Colton
Colton Main Library
656 N. 9th St., Colton
Luque Branch Library
294 E. O St., Colton
Cities Near Colton
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Colton?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Colton FAQ
Is Colton, California affordable?⌄
Colton's median rent is $1,661/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $71,208/year. Median home value is $443,800.
Is Colton, California safe?⌄
Colton's violent crime rate was 345 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1872 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Colton, California?⌄
Colton has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Colton, California?⌄
The cost of living in Colton is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,661/month and median household income is $71,208/year. The median home value is $443,800. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Colton, California?⌄
The average commute in Colton is 28 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