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Living in
Paso Robles.
About
Life in Paso Robles
If you're considering moving to Paso Robles, understand that you're choosing a wine-country lifestyle centered on agriculture and tourism rather than a traditional job hub. The median home value is around $687,200 with rents averaging $1,981 monthly, which is reasonable for California but still a significant commitment. The job market is solid with 4.4% unemployment, though many positions tie to agriculture, hospitality, or service industries rather than corporate work—plan for a possible 24-minute commute if your job isn't local.
Paso Robles at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
13.1%
Foreign-Born
15.2%
Broadband Internet
94.4%
of households
Population Growth
+0.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Paso Robles: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Paso Robles, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (70.2%), and 23.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.2%
of residents
65 and Older
20.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.3%
of households
Married Couples
48.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.60
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 about average for CA
Rent, home values, and income in Paso Robles
In Paso Robles, home values are 6% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,600
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
61.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1987
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $770,504 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.1 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Paso Robles
Unemployment in Paso Robles 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 Paso Robles Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.6 min avg
How Paso Robles residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Paso Robles, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 62% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 27 mi
San Luis County Regional Airport (SBP)
Regional airport · few flights399k 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 9% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office, which covers Paso Robles, runs 9% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
299.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
427.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Luis Obispo County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Luis Obispo County, which includes Paso Robles, the most common type is high wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Wildfire | $4,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 12 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 2 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 1 | Flash 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.
124 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Luis Obispo County, county-wide
Air Quality50 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in San Luis Obispo County, which includes Paso Robles, is typically good — 191 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
50
Good Days
191
per year
Moderate Days
167
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
San Luis Obispo County, county-wide
Climate90°F summers, 35°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Paso Robles has warm summers (avg high 90°F) and mild winters (avg low 35°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/52°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
62°/35°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
15.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
80
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
54
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
47
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 34°F | 3.44" |
| Feb | 64°F | 37°F | 3.24" |
| Mar | 68°F | 40°F | 2.84" |
| Apr | 73°F | 41°F | 0.81" |
| May | 80°F | 46°F | 0.36" |
| Jun | 87°F | 50°F | 0.04" |
| Jul | 91°F | 53°F | 0.10" |
| Aug | 92°F | 53°F | 0.02" |
| Sep | 89°F | 50°F | 0.08" |
| Oct | 81°F | 43°F | 0.66" |
| Nov | 69°F | 37°F | 1.16" |
| Dec | 61°F | 33°F | 2.51" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Paso Robles
Uninsured
9.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Paso Robles's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventist Health Twin Cities
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Templeton
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 Paso Robles
Paso Robles's student/teacher ratio is 22.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 29.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
14
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.7%
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
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pinnacles National Park, 66 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Paso Robles
Paso Robles has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Pinnacles National Park (66 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pinnacles National Park
National Park
66 mi awayPublic Libraries in Paso Robles
Paso Robles Public Library
1000 Spring St., Paso Robles
Library Study Center
3600 Oak St. #101, Paso Robles
Cities Near Paso Robles
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Paso Robles?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Paso Robles FAQ
Is Paso Robles, California affordable?⌄
Paso Robles's median rent is $1,981/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $92,228/year. Median home value is $687,200.
Is Paso Robles, California safe?⌄
Paso Robles is policed by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 300 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 428 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Paso Robles, California?⌄
Paso Robles has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Paso Robles, California?⌄
The cost of living in Paso Robles is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,981/month and median household income is $92,228/year. The median home value is $687,200. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Paso Robles, California?⌄
The average commute in Paso Robles is 26 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