What are the schools like in Bishop, CA?

Bishop is served primarily by Bishop Unified. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 5 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.9:1.

What is the median household income in Bishop?

The median household income in Bishop, CA is $75,451 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.7%.

What is the weather like in Bishop, CA?

Bishop has an average high temperature of 56.3°F in January and 99.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 6.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 9.2 inches.

Bishop, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Bishop, CA affordable or expensive?

Bishop's cost of living index is 106, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bishop is 6% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $387,200 and the median rent is $1,295 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bishop, CA?

Bishop has a violent crime rate of 915.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2395.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bishop, CA a Good Place to Live?

Bishop is a small town of 3,802 in California, with a median household income of $75,451 and a 2.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 106 (US average = 100), which is 6% above the national average.

Strengths: Bishop stands out for solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. Whether Bishop is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Bishop city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 106.3

Bishop's overall cost of living index is 106.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bishop costs roughly 6% more than the average American city.

Metric	Bishop, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$387,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,295	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$75,451	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Bishop's violent crime rate is 915.2 per 100,000 residents — 141% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

915.2 /100k

Property Crime

2395.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Bishop is served primarily by Bishop Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bishop, CA	National Avg
School District	Bishop Unified	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	5	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	33.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bishop sees average highs of 56.3°F in January and 99.7°F in July, with 6.6 inches of annual precipitation and 9.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bishop, CA
Average High — January	56.3°F
Average High — July	99.7°F
Annual Precipitation	6.6"
Annual Snowfall	9.2"

Demographics

Metric	Bishop, CA	National Avg
Population	3,802	—
Median Age	48.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	14.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.4%	18.9%
Asian	2.3%	6.3%
Under 18	11.7%	22.2%
65 and over	25.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dixon Lane-MeadowCreek, CA 2 mi West Bishop, CA 4 mi Wilkerson, CA 6 mi Mesa, CA 9 mi Chalfant, CA 9 mi

Bishop vs Other Cities

Bishop, CA vs Dixon Lane-MeadowCreek, CA Bishop, CA vs West Bishop, CA Bishop, CA vs Wilkerson, CA Bishop, CA vs Mesa, CA Bishop, CA vs Chalfant, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bishop, CA affordable or expensive?

Bishop's cost of living index is 106, where 100 is the national average. That puts Bishop roughly 6% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $387,200 and median rent is $1,295/month.

What is the crime rate in Bishop, CA?

Bishop's violent crime rate is 915.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2395.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bishop?

Public schools in Bishop are operated by Bishop Unified. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 5 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.9:1. 33.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bishop, CA a good place to live?

Bishop, CA has a population of 3,802, a median household income of $75,451, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Bishop?

Bishop averages 56.3°F in January and 99.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 6.6 inches with about 9.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Bishop?

The population of Bishop, California is 3,802 with a median age of 48.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bishop?

Key numbers for living in Bishop: cost of living index 106 (100 = US average), median home $387,200, median household income $75,451, crime index 190 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bishop side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.