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Living in
Fallbrook.
Fallbrook is an unincorporated community in San Diego County, CA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Fallbrook
If you're considering Fallbrook, know that you're looking at a genuinely suburban San Diego County community that's built on agriculture—avocados especially—rather than tourism or resort culture. The Mediterranean climate is a real draw: frost is rare, winters are mild, and summers are warm but moderated by ocean breezes, though you'll get most of your rain compressed into November through April. Housing costs are substantial at a $784,000 median home value and $1,786 median rent, reflecting the broader San Diego County market, though the median household income of $96,000 provides reasonable context.
Fallbrook at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.9%
Foreign-Born
23.4%
Broadband Internet
94.0%
of households
Population Growth
+2.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics23.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Fallbrook: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Fallbrook, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (63.8%), and 40.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.3%
of residents
65 and Older
16.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
14.9%
of households
Married Couples
58.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.26
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 12% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Fallbrook
In Fallbrook, rent runs 12% below the CA average, and home values are 7% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,776
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $876,101 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Fallbrook and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in San Diego County, which includes Fallbrook, is 0.9 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Fallbrook: San Diego County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
San Diego County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Fallbrook is less than 1% of San Diego County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Fallbrook 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
Commute32.8 min avg
How Fallbrook residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Fallbrook, most residents drive alone to work (72%), and 43% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 18 mi
McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD)
Regional airport · few flights68k passengers boarded in 2025
- 41 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 45 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 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, which covers Fallbrook, runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
166.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
315.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by San Diego County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 Fallbrook, 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.
152 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Diego County, county-wide
Fallbrook is less than 1% of San Diego County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality67 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in San Diego County, which includes Fallbrook, 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
Fallbrook is less than 1% of San Diego County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 47°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Fallbrook has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and warm winters (avg low 47°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
82°/57°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
67°/47°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
15.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
61
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
48
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°F | 47°F | 3.17" |
| Feb | 67°F | 46°F | 3.74" |
| Mar | 70°F | 48°F | 2.02" |
| Apr | 72°F | 51°F | 1.00" |
| May | 75°F | 53°F | 0.36" |
| Jun | 81°F | 56°F | 0.12" |
| Jul | 87°F | 60°F | 0.08" |
| Aug | 89°F | 62°F | 0.22" |
| Sep | 88°F | 62°F | 0.11" |
| Oct | 83°F | 58°F | 0.70" |
| Nov | 74°F | 52°F | 1.15" |
| Dec | 67°F | 46°F | 2.64" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Fallbrook
Uninsured
11.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Fallbrook's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Temecula Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 10.8 mi away · Temecula
Southwest Healthcare Rancho Springs Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.7 mi away · Murrieta
Tri-city Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.8 mi away · Oceanside
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.
Education20.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Fallbrook
Fallbrook's student/teacher ratio is 20.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 26.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Fallbrook (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 10,278 students · in-state tuition $1,158 · 29% graduate · median earnings $49,887 (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, 34 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Fallbrook
Fallbrook has 4 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 awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
49 mi awayJoshua Tree National Park
National Park
89 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Fallbrook
Fallbrook Library
124 South Mission Road, Fallbrook
Cities Near Fallbrook
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Fallbrook?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Fallbrook FAQ
Is Fallbrook, California affordable?⌄
Fallbrook's median rent is $1,786/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $96,394/year. Median home value is $784,100.
Is Fallbrook, California safe?⌄
Fallbrook is policed by the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 167 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 315 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Fallbrook, California?⌄
San Diego County, which includes Fallbrook, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Fallbrook, California?⌄
The cost of living in Fallbrook is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,786/month and median household income is $96,394/year. The median home value is $784,100. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Fallbrook, California?⌄
The average commute in Fallbrook is 33 minutes, which is 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