What it's like to live in Yucca Valley
Yucca Valley is a small city in California. The numbers below lay out what daily life there actually looks like.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Yucca Valley deals with county unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
How Yucca Valley compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Yucca Valley
Based on Yucca Valley's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,856
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $57,120 a year
- 62% of Yucca Valley renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$72,680
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $36,340
- Homes cost 6.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,428/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,428 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 $363,400. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $363,400 · 62% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.4% county unemployment
Unemployment in San Bernardino County is 5.4%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
San Bernardino County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 62% above US
535 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 1097/100k · Yucca Valley Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
28 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 28.3 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 94°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 37°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 39% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary. 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 Joshua Tree National Park (36 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Nothing in Yucca Valley's numbers stands out as a clear strength, and the main tradeoffs are county unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,428/mo) equals 29% 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 Yucca Valley
All California guides →Moving to Desert Hot Springs →
14 mi away · pop. 33,200
Rent $1,412/mo · Income $52,761
Compare with Yucca Valley →Moving to Cathedral City →
20 mi away · pop. 52,267
Rent $1,601/mo · Income $73,572
Compare with Yucca Valley →Moving to Twentynine Palms →
20 mi away · pop. 27,355
Rent $1,352/mo · Income $62,554
Compare with Yucca Valley →Moving to Palm Springs →
23 mi away · pop. 45,070
Rent $1,562/mo · Income $73,119
Compare with Yucca Valley →Not sure Yucca Valley is the one?
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