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Living in
National City.
About
Life in National City
If you're considering moving to National City, understand you're choosing a diverse, densely populated urban community with real trade-offs. The cost of living has climbed—median home values around $612k and rents near $1,692/month—though it's still more affordable than much of San Diego County. The area's strong points are genuine: walkability that rivals Portland and Seattle, a mild climate with 201 days above 72 degrees and minimal rain, and a genuine sense of community through neighborhood councils and local events.
National City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.6%
Foreign-Born
36.0%
Broadband Internet
87.8%
of households
Population Growth
-1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics36.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in National City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In National City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (61.1%), and 51.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.5%
of residents
65 and Older
15.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
36.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.6%
of households
Married Couples
40.4%
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 17% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in National City
In National City, rent runs 17% below the CA average, and home values are 17% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
31.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,595
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
34.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $685,179 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in National City and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in National City is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What National City 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
Commute25.4 min avg
How National City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In National City, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 66% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 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 94% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in National City runs 94% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
637.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,712.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
National City 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 National City, 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.
183 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Diego County, county-wide
National City is about 2% 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 National City, 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
National City is about 2% 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
National City 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
9.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
5
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
33
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" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in National City
National City has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
12.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Paradise Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Paradise Valley Hospital · 2400 East 4th St
- Hospital campus: Paradise Valley Hospital Bayview Behavioral Health Campus · 330 Moss St, Chula Vista
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Sharp Coronado Hospital and Hlthcr Ctr
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.5 mi away · Coronado
Nmc San Diego
Acute Care - Department of Defense · ER available · 4.9 mi away · San Diego
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.6 mi away · Chula Vista
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. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education23.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in National City
National City's student/teacher ratio is 23.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 18.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near National City (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)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,794 students · in-state tuition $13,284 · 46% graduate · median earnings $73,988 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,441 students · in-state tuition $1,154 · 21% graduate · median earnings $44,127 (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, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for National City
National City has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cabrillo National Monument (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cabrillo National Monument
National Monument
8 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
84 mi awayPublic Libraries in National City
National City Public Library
1401 National City Blvd., National City
Cities Near National City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to National City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
National City FAQ
Is National City, California affordable?⌄
National City's median rent is $1,692/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $66,841/year. Median home value is $612,200.
Is National City, California safe?⌄
National City's violent crime rate was 637 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1713 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in National City, California?⌄
National City has an unemployment rate of 5.4%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in National City, California?⌄
The cost of living in National City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,692/month and median household income is $66,841/year. The median home value is $612,200. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in National City, California?⌄
The average commute in National City is 25 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