What it's like to live in Fresno
Fresno is a major city in California with commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Fresno deals with unemployment above the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Short commutes
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
How Fresno compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Fresno
Based on Fresno's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,842
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $56,840 a year
- 55% of Fresno renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$74,960
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $37,480
- Homes cost 5.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,421/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,421 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $374,800. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $374,800 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 56% above US
6.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 6.7%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 119% above US
720 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 2580/100k · Fresno Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 14% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.4 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 95°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 41°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
5 hospitals
There are 5 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 29% below US
26% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 26%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
163 public schools inside the boundary
There are 163 public schools inside the boundary and 9 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (67 miles away). There are 5 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Fresno's strongest point is commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,421/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Fresno
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