What it's like to live in Tulare
Tulare is a smaller city in California with commutes that run shorter than most cities and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Tulare deals with unemployment above the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and college degree attainment below the national average.
The good
- Short commutes
- Growing population
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Low college degree attainment
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
How Tulare compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Tulare
Based on Tulare's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,870
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,400 a year
- 55% of Tulare renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$65,960
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $32,980
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,435/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,435 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $329,800. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $329,800 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 72% above US
7.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 7.4%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 45% above US
477 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1476/100k · Tulare Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 5% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 92°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 39°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 67% below US
12% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
25 public schools inside the boundary
There are 25 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (55 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Tulare's strongest points are commutes that run shorter than most cities and a growing population; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,435/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 Tulare
All California guides →Not sure Tulare is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.