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Living in
Rancho San Diego.
Rancho San Diego is an unincorporated community in San Diego County, CA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Rancho San Diego
Rancho San Diego is a community of 22,264 people in California. The median household income is $118,431, median rent runs about $2,618 per month, and median home values are around $905,300. The unemployment rate is 4.6%.
Rancho San Diego at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.1%
Foreign-Born
20.4%
Broadband Internet
95.3%
of households
Population Growth
+2.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics20.4% foreign-born, most often from Iraq
Who lives in Rancho San Diego: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rancho San Diego, the largest foreign-born group is from Iraq (59.2%), and 10.8% of residents speak Arabic at home.
Under 18
20.5%
of residents
65 and Older
22.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.3%
of households
Married Couples
68.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.71
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 29% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Rancho San Diego
In Rancho San Diego, rent runs 29% above the CA average, and home values are 23% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
38.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,781
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.5%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Rancho San Diego and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in San Diego County, which includes Rancho San Diego, is 0.9 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Rancho San Diego: San Diego County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
San Diego County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Rancho San Diego is less than 1% of San Diego County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Rancho San Diego 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
Commute28.2 min avg
How Rancho San Diego residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rancho San Diego, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 55% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 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 49% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, which covers Rancho San Diego, runs 49% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
166.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
315.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by San Diego County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 Rancho San Diego, 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.
218 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Diego County, county-wide
Rancho San Diego 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 Rancho San Diego, 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
Rancho San Diego is less than 1% of San Diego County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate85°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Rancho San Diego has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/52°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
81°/55°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
69°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
57
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
3
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
36
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69°F | 43°F | 2.32" |
| Feb | 69°F | 44°F | 2.61" |
| Mar | 71°F | 48°F | 1.92" |
| Apr | 75°F | 51°F | 0.75" |
| May | 76°F | 56°F | 0.30" |
| Jun | 81°F | 59°F | 0.06" |
| Jul | 86°F | 63°F | 0.16" |
| Aug | 89°F | 65°F | 0.02" |
| Sep | 87°F | 62°F | 0.11" |
| Oct | 81°F | 56°F | 0.54" |
| Nov | 75°F | 47°F | 1.01" |
| Dec | 69°F | 42°F | 1.83" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Rancho San Diego
Uninsured
4.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside Rancho San Diego's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Grossmont Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · La Mesa
Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health Syste
Psychiatric · 6.6 mi away · La Mesa
Paradise Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.6 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.
Education45.7% college degree rate
Schools and degree attainment in Rancho San Diego
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
45.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Rancho San Diego
Public · 2-year · 7,177 students · in-state tuition $1,340 · 25% graduate · median earnings $45,171 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (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, 19 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rancho San Diego
Rancho San Diego has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cabrillo National Monument (19 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cabrillo National Monument
National Monument
19 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
80 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rancho San Diego
Rancho San Diego Library
11555 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon
Cities Near Rancho San Diego
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rancho San Diego?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rancho San Diego FAQ
Is Rancho San Diego, California affordable?⌄
Rancho San Diego's median rent is $2,618/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $118,682/year. Median home value is $905,300.
Is Rancho San Diego, California safe?⌄
Rancho San Diego is policed by the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 167 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 315 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rancho San Diego, California?⌄
San Diego County, which includes Rancho San Diego, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rancho San Diego, California?⌄
The cost of living in Rancho San Diego is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,618/month and median household income is $118,682/year. The median home value is $905,300. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rancho San Diego, California?⌄
The average commute in Rancho San Diego 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