© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Hollister.
About
Life in Hollister
Hollister offers an affordable option compared to much of California's coast, with a median home value around $718,000 and median household income near $112,000, though you'll want to factor in a typical 36-minute commute if you're working elsewhere in the region. Summers are warm but not brutally hot by Central Valley standards, averaging around 80°F from June through October, though heat extremes do happen. The climate follows a Mediterranean pattern, so expect dry summers and winter rain.
Hollister at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Foreign-Born
22.1%
Broadband Internet
96.7%
of households
Population Growth
+9.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics22.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Hollister: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hollister, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (78.6%), and 46.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.3%
of residents
65 and Older
11.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
48.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
14.9%
of households
Married Couples
56.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.46
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 6% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Hollister
In Hollister, rent runs 6% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
110.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,833
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Vacant Homes
2.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $756,860 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.8 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Hollister
Unemployment in Hollister is 1.8 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Hollister Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute36.6 min avg
How Hollister residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hollister, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 46% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 31 mi
Monterey Regional Airport (MRY)
Regional airport · few flights326k passengers boarded in 2025
- 46 mi
Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Medium hub5.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 75 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 15% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hollister runs 15% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
281.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
505.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hollister Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
85.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Benito County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Benito County, which includes Hollister, the most common type is strong wind, with 7 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | High Wind | $10 |
| 2024 | 2 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 1 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 6 | Heat | Not estimated |
| 2021 | 5 | Strong Wind | $20.0M |
| 2020 | 3 | Wildfire | Not estimated |
| 2019 | 20 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 3 | Hail | 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.
244 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Benito County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in San Benito County, which includes Hollister, is typically good — 334 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
334
per year
Moderate Days
31
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
San Benito County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hollister has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/53°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
13.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
25
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
18
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
48
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 39°F | 3.10" |
| Feb | 62°F | 41°F | 2.65" |
| Mar | 66°F | 43°F | 2.23" |
| Apr | 69°F | 45°F | 0.99" |
| May | 73°F | 48°F | 0.44" |
| Jun | 78°F | 51°F | 0.09" |
| Jul | 80°F | 54°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 81°F | 54°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 81°F | 53°F | 0.05" |
| Oct | 77°F | 48°F | 0.62" |
| Nov | 67°F | 42°F | 1.25" |
| Dec | 59°F | 38°F | 2.27" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hollister
Hollister has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.5%
of residents
Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education24.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hollister
Hollister's student/teacher ratio is 24.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 19.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
24.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pinnacles National Park, 28 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hollister
Hollister has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pinnacles National Park (28 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pinnacles National Park
National Park
28 mi awayEugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
75 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
87 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
88 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
88 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
88 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
88 mi awayPort Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hollister
San Benito County Free Library
470 Fifth St., Hollister
Cities Near Hollister
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hollister?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hollister FAQ
Is Hollister, California affordable?⌄
Hollister's median rent is $1,914/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $111,834/year. Median home value is $717,500.
Is Hollister, California safe?⌄
Hollister's violent crime rate was 281 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 506 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hollister, California?⌄
Hollister has an unemployment rate of 7.3%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hollister, California?⌄
The cost of living in Hollister is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,914/month and median household income is $111,834/year. The median home value is $717,500. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hollister, California?⌄
The average commute in Hollister is 37 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