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Living in
California.
California is an unincorporated community in St. Mary's County, MD. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in California
California is a community of 13,223 people in Maryland. The median household income is $119,855, median rent runs about $1,927 per month, and median home values are around $346,800. Unemployment is low at 3.4%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
California at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.9%
Foreign-Born
6.4%
Broadband Internet
94.9%
of households
Population Growth
-10.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.4% foreign-born, most often from Panama
Who lives in California: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In California, the largest foreign-born group is from Panama (13.2%), and 3.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.2%
of residents
65 and Older
13.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.6%
of households
Married Couples
50.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.47
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 13% above MD average
Rent, home values, and income in California
In California, rent runs 13% above the MD average, and home values are 17% below the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
31.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
10.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,963
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $398,050 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below MD average
Unemployment in California
Unemployment in St. Mary's County, which includes California, is 0.6 percentage points lower than the MD average.
Unemployment rate
California: St. Mary's County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
St. Mary's County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What California Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.7 min avg
How California residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In California, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 72% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 48 mi
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Major hub12.0M 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 26% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office, which covers California, runs 26% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
242.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,095.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very Low
42.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
St. Mary's County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In St. Mary's County, which includes California, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $309,000 |
| 2024 | 17 | Coastal Flood | $355,000 |
| 2023 | 19 | Coastal Flood | $5.3M |
| 2022 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $371,000 |
| 2021 | 31 | Thunderstorm Wind | $207,500 |
| 2020 | 40 | Flood | $926,000 |
| 2019 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 34 | Coastal Flood | $10,000 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
St. Mary's County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Calvert County, MD (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 16 miles from California) is typically good — 227 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
227
per year
Moderate Days
13
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Calvert County, MD (16 mi away)
Climate85°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
California has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
65°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/69°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/52°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
48°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.3"
Annual Snowfall
12.5"
Hot Days/Year
31
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
59
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
118
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 30°F | 2.91" |
| Feb | 48°F | 31°F | 2.84" |
| Mar | 55°F | 37°F | 4.00" |
| Apr | 66°F | 47°F | 3.68" |
| May | 75°F | 57°F | 3.66" |
| Jun | 83°F | 66°F | 4.27" |
| Jul | 87°F | 71°F | 4.49" |
| Aug | 85°F | 69°F | 4.66" |
| Sep | 79°F | 63°F | 4.15" |
| Oct | 69°F | 52°F | 4.03" |
| Nov | 58°F | 41°F | 3.07" |
| Dec | 50°F | 34°F | 3.54" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in California
Uninsured
2.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside California's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Medstar Saint Mary's Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7 mi away · Leonardtown
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.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in California
California's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 43.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
43.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for California
California has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
National Historical Park
23 mi awayGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument
National Monument
24 mi awayThomas Stone National Historic Site
National Historic Site
33 mi awayFort Washington Park
Park
40 mi awayHarmony Hall
National Park Site
41 mi awayPiscataway Park
Park
41 mi awayFort Foote Park
Park
43 mi awayOxon Cove Park & Oxon Hill Farm
National Park Site
44 mi awayCities Near California
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to California?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
California FAQ
Is California, Maryland affordable?⌄
California's median rent is $1,927/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $119,855/year. Median home value is $346,800.
Is California, Maryland safe?⌄
California is policed by the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 243 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1096 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in California, Maryland?⌄
St. Mary's County, which includes California, has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in California, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in California is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,927/month and median household income is $119,855/year. The median home value is $346,800. About 32% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in California, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in California is 24 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