What are the schools like in Carmichael, CA?

Carmichael is served primarily by San Juan Unified. The district operates 43 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, and 15 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 22.6:1.

What is the median household income in Carmichael?

The median household income in Carmichael, CA is $80,138 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.5%.

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

Q: Is Carmichael, CA affordable or expensive?

Carmichael's cost of living index is 109, where 100 represents the national average. This means Carmichael is 9% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $495,400 and the median rent is $1,480 per month.

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

Carmichael has a violent crime rate of 518.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1927.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Q: What is the weather like in Carmichael, CA?

Carmichael has an average high temperature of 56.5°F in January and 94.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 20.9 inches.

Is Carmichael, CA a Good Place to Live?

Carmichael is a mid-sized city of 78,144 in California, with a median household income of $80,138 and a 5.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.

Strengths: Carmichael stands out for solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Carmichael is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Carmichael 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: 108.9

Carmichael's overall cost of living index is 108.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Carmichael costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.

Metric	Carmichael, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$495,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,480	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	53.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$80,138	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Carmichael's violent crime rate is 518.1 per 100,000 residents — 36% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

518.1 /100k

Property Crime

1927.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Carmichael is served primarily by San Juan Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Carmichael, CA	National Avg
School District	San Juan Unified	—
Elementary Schools	43	—
Middle Schools	9	—
High Schools	15	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	22.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	35.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Carmichael sees average highs of 56.5°F in January and 94.4°F in July, with 20.9 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Carmichael, CA
Average High — January	56.5°F
Average High — July	94.4°F
Annual Precipitation	20.9"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Carmichael, CA	National Avg
Population	78,144	—
Median Age	41.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	71.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.4%	18.9%
Asian	7.7%	6.3%
Under 18	19.4%	22.2%
65 and over	20.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

North Highlands, CA 4 mi Arden-Arcade, CA 4 mi Foothill Farms, CA 4 mi Gold River, CA 4 mi Fair Oaks, CA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Carmichael

Carmichael, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

95608

Carmichael vs Other Cities

Carmichael, CA vs North Highlands, CA Carmichael, CA vs Arden-Arcade, CA Carmichael, CA vs Foothill Farms, CA Carmichael, CA vs Gold River, CA Carmichael, CA vs Fair Oaks, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carmichael, CA affordable or expensive?

Carmichael's cost of living index is 109, where 100 is the national average. That puts Carmichael roughly 9% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $495,400 and median rent is $1,480/month.

What is the crime rate in Carmichael, CA?

Carmichael's violent crime rate is 518.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1927.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Carmichael?

Public schools in Carmichael are operated by San Juan Unified. The district has 43 elementary, 9 middle, and 15 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.6:1. 35.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Carmichael, CA a good place to live?

Carmichael, CA has a population of 78,144, a median household income of $80,138, and an unemployment rate of 5.5%. 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 Carmichael?

Carmichael averages 56.5°F in January and 94.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 20.9 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Carmichael?

Carmichael, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 95608.

What is the population of Carmichael?

The population of Carmichael, California is 78,144 with a median age of 41.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Carmichael?

Key numbers for living in Carmichael: cost of living index 109 (100 = US average), median home $495,400, median household income $80,138, crime index 119 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carmichael side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.