What are the schools like in Fresno, CA?

Fresno is served primarily by Fresno Unified. The district operates 70 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, and 15 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.3:1.

What is the median household income in Fresno?

The median household income in Fresno, CA is $63,001 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.0%.

What is the weather like in Fresno, CA?

Fresno has an average high temperature of 55.4°F in January and 97.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 11.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Fresno, CA affordable or expensive?

Fresno's cost of living index is 105, where 100 represents the national average. This means Fresno is 5% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $321,800 and the median rent is $1,227 per month.

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

Fresno has a violent crime rate of 735.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3271.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Fresno, CA a Good Place to Live?

Fresno is a large city of 541,528 in California, with a median household income of $63,001 and a 9.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 105 (US average = 100), which is 5% above the national average.

Strengths: Fresno stands out for short average commutes.

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

All Fresno 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: 105.0

Fresno's overall cost of living index is 105.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fresno costs roughly 5% more than the average American city.

Metric	Fresno, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$321,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,227	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,001	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Fresno's violent crime rate is 735.5 per 100,000 residents — 94% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

735.5 /100k

Property Crime

3271.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Fresno is served primarily by Fresno Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Fresno, CA	National Avg
School District	Fresno Unified	—
Elementary Schools	70	—
Middle Schools	14	—
High Schools	15	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	19.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	79.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Fresno sees average highs of 55.4°F in January and 97.7°F in July, with 11.4 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Fresno, CA
Average High — January	55.4°F
Average High — July	97.7°F
Annual Precipitation	11.4"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Fresno, CA	National Avg
Population	541,528	—
Median Age	32.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	44.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	6.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	30.0%	18.9%
Asian	14.1%	6.3%
Under 18	27.8%	22.2%
65 and over	11.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Old Fig Garden, CA 1 mi Mayfair, CA 2 mi Calwa, CA 5 mi Tarpey Village, CA 5 mi West Park, CA 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Fresno

Fresno, CA is covered by 21 ZIP codes:

93706 93727 93722 93720 93711 93726 93710 93725 93702 93705 93730 93703 93704 93723 93728 93721 93701 93740 93737 93650 93741

Fresno vs Other Cities

Fresno, CA vs Old Fig Garden, CA Fresno, CA vs Mayfair, CA Fresno, CA vs Calwa, CA Fresno, CA vs Tarpey Village, CA Fresno, CA vs West Park, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fresno, CA affordable or expensive?

Fresno's cost of living index is 105, where 100 is the national average. That puts Fresno roughly 5% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $321,800 and median rent is $1,227/month.

What is the crime rate in Fresno, CA?

Fresno's violent crime rate is 735.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3271.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Fresno?

Public schools in Fresno are operated by Fresno Unified. The district has 70 elementary, 14 middle, and 15 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.3:1. 24.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Fresno, CA a good place to live?

Fresno, CA has a population of 541,528, a median household income of $63,001, and an unemployment rate of 9.0%. 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 Fresno?

Fresno averages 55.4°F in January and 97.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 11.4 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Fresno?

Fresno, CA is covered by 21 ZIP codes: 93706, 93727, 93722, 93720, 93711, 93726, 93710, 93725, 93702, 93705, 93730, 93703, 93704, 93723, 93728, 93721, 93701, 93740, 93737, 93650, 93741.

What is the population of Fresno?

The population of Fresno, California is 541,528 with a median age of 32.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Fresno?

Key numbers for living in Fresno: cost of living index 105 (100 = US average), median home $321,800, median household income $63,001, crime index 178 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fresno side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.