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Living in
Gilroy.
About
Life in Gilroy
Gilroy offers an accessible entry point to the Bay Area with a more affordable cost of living than many nearby communities, though home prices have climbed substantially to nearly $1 million median value. The economy centers on agriculture—particularly garlic and specialty crops—plus the Garlic Festival, wineries, and some light retail and healthcare employment. You'll find a solidly middle-class community with strong family presence; about half of households have children, and the median age is 36.
Gilroy at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.7%
Foreign-Born
24.3%
Broadband Internet
95.8%
of households
Population Growth
+2.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics24.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Gilroy: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Gilroy, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (54.1%), and 36.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.8%
of residents
65 and Older
13.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
43.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
14.5%
of households
Married Couples
56.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.34
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 13% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Gilroy
In Gilroy, rent runs 13% above the CA average, and home values are 40% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
21.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
110.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$8,513
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1989
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,044,931 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Gilroy and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Gilroy is 0.5 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 Gilroy Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area
Commute33.3 min avg
How Gilroy residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Gilroy, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 49% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 32 mi
Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Medium hub5.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 62 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M 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 23% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Gilroy runs 23% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
405.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,929.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Gilroy Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 10 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).
Santa Clara County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Santa Clara County, which includes Gilroy, the most common type is strong wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Flood | $10 |
| 2024 | 17 | Flood | $80 |
| 2023 | 15 | High Wind | $40 |
| 2022 | 11 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 19 | Strong Wind | $1,000 |
| 2020 | 24 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 45 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 25 | Flood | None reported |
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.
226 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Santa Clara County, county-wide
Gilroy is about 3% of Santa Clara County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in Santa Clara County, which includes Gilroy, is typically good — 201 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
201
per year
Moderate Days
161
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Santa Clara County, county-wide
Gilroy is about 3% of Santa Clara County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Gilroy has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/53°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
77°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
62°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
19.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
48
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
16
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
55
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61°F | 38°F | 4.55" |
| Feb | 64°F | 40°F | 4.27" |
| Mar | 68°F | 43°F | 2.59" |
| Apr | 72°F | 45°F | 1.30" |
| May | 77°F | 49°F | 0.56" |
| Jun | 83°F | 52°F | 0.15" |
| Jul | 87°F | 54°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 87°F | 54°F | 0.03" |
| Sep | 85°F | 53°F | 0.04" |
| Oct | 79°F | 48°F | 0.85" |
| Nov | 68°F | 42°F | 1.74" |
| Dec | 60°F | 37°F | 3.69" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Gilroy
Uninsured
6.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Gilroy's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Watsonville Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.6 mi away · Watsonville
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.
Education23.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Gilroy
Gilroy's student/teacher ratio is 23.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 29.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pinnacles National Park, 42 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Gilroy
Gilroy has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pinnacles National Park (42 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pinnacles National Park
National Park
42 mi awayEugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
62 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
72 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
73 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
73 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
74 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
74 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
76 mi awayPublic Libraries in Gilroy
Gilroy Library
350 W 6th Street, Gilroy
Cities Near Gilroy
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Gilroy?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Gilroy FAQ
Is Gilroy, California affordable?⌄
Gilroy's median rent is $2,301/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $133,107/year. Median home value is $1,027,400.
Is Gilroy, California safe?⌄
Gilroy's violent crime rate was 406 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1929 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Gilroy, California?⌄
Gilroy has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Gilroy, California?⌄
The cost of living in Gilroy is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,301/month and median household income is $133,107/year. The median home value is $1,027,400. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Gilroy, California?⌄
The average commute in Gilroy 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