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Living in
Martinez.
About
Life in Martinez
Living in Martinez means embracing a waterfront lifestyle without the San Francisco price tag, though housing is still expensive by most standards. The city's biggest draw is outdoor access—you're surrounded by regional parks and shoreline, and it's one of only two places in the Bay Area where major trail systems converge, giving you immediate access to hiking and biking. The downtown has real character with its historic center and views across the strait to the Sierra Nevada, which feels genuinely nice for day-to-day life rather than just a weekend destination.
Martinez at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
42.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Foreign-Born
12.0%
Broadband Internet
95.9%
of households
Population Growth
-1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Martinez: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Martinez, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (17.2%), and 9.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.8%
of residents
65 and Older
18.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.9%
of households
Married Couples
51.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
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 16% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Martinez
In Martinez, rent runs 16% above the CA average, and home values are 17% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
22.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,291
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
70.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1977
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $749,729 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.1 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Martinez
Unemployment in Martinez is 1.1 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 Martinez Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute28.4 min avg
How Martinez residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Martinez, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 mi
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK)
Medium hub4.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 30 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% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Martinez runs 23% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
254.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,125.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Martinez Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Contra Costa County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Contra Costa County, which includes Martinez, 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 | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Flood | $70 |
| 2023 | 9 | High Wind | Not estimated |
| 2022 | 12 | Strong Wind | $10 |
| 2021 | 12 | Strong Wind | Not estimated |
| 2020 | 18 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 32 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 16 | 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.
252 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Contra Costa County, county-wide
Martinez is about 3% of Contra Costa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality48 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in Contra Costa County, which includes Martinez, is typically good — 195 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
48
Good Days
195
per year
Moderate Days
168
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Contra Costa County, county-wide
Martinez is about 3% of Contra Costa County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate87°F summers, 36°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Martinez has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and mild winters (avg low 36°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
72°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/51°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
75°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/36°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
22.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
17
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
58
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 35°F | 3.86" |
| Feb | 61°F | 37°F | 3.81" |
| Mar | 66°F | 40°F | 2.74" |
| Apr | 71°F | 43°F | 1.32" |
| May | 78°F | 46°F | 0.62" |
| Jun | 85°F | 50°F | 0.25" |
| Jul | 88°F | 51°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 87°F | 51°F | 0.03" |
| Sep | 84°F | 50°F | 0.06" |
| Oct | 76°F | 46°F | 0.79" |
| Nov | 64°F | 39°F | 2.10" |
| Dec | 57°F | 35°F | 3.81" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Martinez
Martinez has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
John Muir Behavioral Health Center
Psychiatric · ER available · 4.4 mi away · Concord
John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Concord
John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Walnut Creek
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.
Education22.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Martinez
Martinez's student/teacher ratio is 22.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 46.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
46.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Martinez (within 15 miles)
University of California-Berkeley
11.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 33,068 students · in-state tuition $17,198 · 94% graduate · median earnings $100,212 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 15,358 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 32% graduate · median earnings $56,684 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,320 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 32% graduate · median earnings $49,834 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 5,203 students · in-state tuition $1,128 · 22% graduate · median earnings $45,857 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,456 students · in-state tuition $1,258 · 21% graduate · median earnings $48,574 (10 yrs after entry)
Saint Mary's College of California
10.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,947 students · in-state tuition $59,769 · 75% graduate · median earnings $83,501 (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: John Muir National Historic Site, 1 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Martinez
Martinez has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being John Muir National Historic Site (1 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
John Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
1 mi awayPort Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
6 mi awayEugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
13 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
15 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
21 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
21 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
24 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
24 mi awayPublic Libraries in Martinez
Contra Costa County Public Law Library
1020 Ward St, Martinez
Martinez Library
740 Court St., Martinez
Cities Near Martinez
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Martinez?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Martinez FAQ
Is Martinez, California affordable?⌄
Martinez's median rent is $2,353/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $127,355/year. Median home value is $859,800.
Is Martinez, California safe?⌄
Martinez's violent crime rate was 254 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1126 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Martinez, California?⌄
Martinez has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Martinez, California?⌄
The cost of living in Martinez is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,353/month and median household income is $127,355/year. The median home value is $859,800. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Martinez, California?⌄
The average commute in Martinez 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