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Living in
Patterson.
About
Life in Patterson
Patterson is a young, growing Central Valley city on the west side of Stanislaus County along I-5, and many of its residents commute to jobs elsewhere: the average commute is about 42 minutes, well above the national average of 26. The median age is about 31, and the population is up about 12% since 2020. Housing costs less than the Bay Area: the median home value is $450,200, and rent averages $1,655 a month.
Patterson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
30.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.0%
Foreign-Born
22.4%
Broadband Internet
94.8%
of households
Population Growth
+11.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics22.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Patterson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Patterson, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (72.6%), and 48.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
32.7%
of residents
65 and Older
10.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
53.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
14.6%
of households
Married Couples
61.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.78
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 19% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Patterson
In Patterson, rent runs 19% below the CA average, and home values are 39% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
39.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,465
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
71.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2000
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $502,464 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 3.7 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Patterson
Unemployment in Patterson is 3.7 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 Patterson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute41.6 min avg
How Patterson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Patterson, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 41% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 30 mi
Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK)
Regional airport · few flights66k passengers boarded in 2025
- 44 mi
Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Medium hub5.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 69 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 30% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Patterson runs 30% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
231.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
813.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Patterson Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Stanislaus County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Stanislaus County, which includes Patterson, the most common type is drought, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2024 | 11 | Cold/Wind Chill | None reported |
| 2023 | 11 | Flood | $4,000 |
| 2022 | 19 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 23 | Drought | $100,000 |
| 2020 | 4 | Wildfire | Not estimated |
| 2019 | 2 | Wildfire | None reported |
| 2018 | 5 | Heat | $20,000 |
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.
219 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Stanislaus County, county-wide
Patterson is about 4% of Stanislaus County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality51 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Stanislaus County, which includes Patterson, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
51
Good Days
182
per year
Moderate Days
180
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Stanislaus County, county-wide
Patterson is about 4% of Stanislaus County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate93°F summers, 40°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Patterson has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and mild winters (avg low 40°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
75°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/40°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
90
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
12
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
53
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 39°F | 2.57" |
| Feb | 62°F | 42°F | 2.22" |
| Mar | 68°F | 45°F | 1.78" |
| Apr | 74°F | 48°F | 1.00" |
| May | 82°F | 54°F | 0.65" |
| Jun | 90°F | 59°F | 0.15" |
| Jul | 95°F | 63°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 94°F | 62°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 89°F | 59°F | 0.06" |
| Oct | 79°F | 52°F | 0.55" |
| Nov | 66°F | 43°F | 1.07" |
| Dec | 56°F | 39°F | 2.21" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Patterson
Uninsured
3.6%
of residents
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Education22.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Patterson
Patterson's student/teacher ratio is 22.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 13.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
13.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Patterson (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 15,109 students · in-state tuition $1,276 · 29% graduate · median earnings $45,551 (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: Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, 53 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Patterson
Patterson has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (53 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
53 mi awayPort Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
62 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
64 mi awayPinnacles National Park
National Park
68 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
72 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
73 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
73 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
75 mi awayPublic Libraries in Patterson
Patterson Library
46 N. Salado, Patterson
Cities Near Patterson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Patterson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Patterson FAQ
Is Patterson, California affordable?⌄
Patterson's median rent is $1,655/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $93,650/year. Median home value is $450,200.
Is Patterson, California safe?⌄
Patterson's violent crime rate was 231 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 814 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Patterson, California?⌄
Patterson has an unemployment rate of 9.2%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Patterson, California?⌄
The cost of living in Patterson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,655/month and median household income is $93,650/year. The median home value is $450,200. About 39% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Patterson, California?⌄
The average commute in Patterson is 42 minutes, which is significantly 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