© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Lemon Grove.
About
Life in Lemon Grove
Lemon Grove is a working-class, diverse neighborhood that functions as part of the greater San Diego metro area rather than a standalone destination. You'll get reliable transit access via the trolley and major highways, which matters for a 30-minute commute to most jobs in the county. The median home price sits around $705,000 and median rent at $1,893, so it's more affordable than many coastal San Diego neighborhoods, but still reflects California pricing.
Lemon Grove at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.2%
Foreign-Born
17.0%
Broadband Internet
94.2%
of households
Population Growth
+0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics17.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lemon Grove: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lemon Grove, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (57.5%), and 31.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.0%
of residents
65 and Older
14.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.8%
of households
Married Couples
47.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.00
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 7% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Lemon Grove
In Lemon Grove, rent runs 7% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
60.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,752
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
52.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $757,493 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Lemon Grove and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Lemon Grove 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 Lemon Grove 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
Commute29.2 min avg
How Lemon Grove residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lemon Grove, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 57% 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lemon Grove is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
344.1
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
767.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lemon Grove 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 Lemon Grove, 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.
208 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Diego County, county-wide
Lemon Grove 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 Lemon Grove, 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
Lemon Grove is less than 1% of San Diego County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate74°F summers, 47°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lemon Grove has mild summers (avg high 74°F) and warm winters (avg low 47°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/54°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
74°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/58°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
67°/47°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
5
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
49
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°F | 47°F | 1.82" |
| Feb | 67°F | 48°F | 2.33" |
| Mar | 67°F | 51°F | 1.39" |
| Apr | 68°F | 54°F | 0.67" |
| May | 69°F | 58°F | 0.27" |
| Jun | 71°F | 61°F | 0.05" |
| Jul | 75°F | 65°F | 0.06" |
| Aug | 77°F | 66°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 77°F | 64°F | 0.09" |
| Oct | 75°F | 59°F | 0.36" |
| Nov | 71°F | 51°F | 0.57" |
| Dec | 67°F | 46°F | 1.58" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lemon Grove
Uninsured
7.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Lemon Grove's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health Syste
Psychiatric · 2.9 mi away · La Mesa
Grossmont Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.5 mi away · La Mesa
Paradise Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · National City
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.
Education22.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lemon Grove
Lemon Grove's student/teacher ratio is 22.3:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 20.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
20.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lemon Grove (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 · 18,614 students · in-state tuition $1,356 · 31% graduate · median earnings $47,535 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 16,098 students · in-state tuition $1,154 · 23% graduate · median earnings $50,947 (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 · 11,271 students · in-state tuition $1,154 · 22% graduate · median earnings $53,737 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,794 students · in-state tuition $13,284 · 46% graduate · median earnings $73,988 (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, 13 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lemon Grove
Lemon Grove has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cabrillo National Monument (13 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cabrillo National Monument
National Monument
13 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
80 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lemon Grove
Lemon Grove Library
3001 School Lane, Lemon Grove
Cities Near Lemon Grove
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lemon Grove?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lemon Grove FAQ
Is Lemon Grove, California affordable?⌄
Lemon Grove's median rent is $1,893/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $88,009/year. Median home value is $705,400.
Is Lemon Grove, California safe?⌄
Lemon Grove's violent crime rate was 344 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 767 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lemon Grove, California?⌄
Lemon Grove has an unemployment rate of 5.0%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lemon Grove, California?⌄
The cost of living in Lemon Grove is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,893/month and median household income is $88,009/year. The median home value is $705,400. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lemon Grove, California?⌄
The average commute in Lemon Grove 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