Is Joshua Tree, CA a Good Place to Live?
Joshua Tree is a small town of 6,751 in California, with a median household income of $54,678 and a 10.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 108 (US average = 100), which is 8% above the national average.
Strengths: Joshua Tree's profile is close to national averages across most measures.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Joshua Tree is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Joshua Tree 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: 107.9Joshua Tree's overall cost of living index is 107.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Joshua Tree costs roughly 8% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Joshua Tree, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $257,900 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.1% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $54,678 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageJoshua Tree's violent crime rate is 520.8 per 100,000 residents — 37% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Joshua Tree is served primarily by Morongo Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Joshua Tree, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Morongo Unified | — |
| Elementary Schools | 11 | — |
| Middle Schools | 2 | — |
| High Schools | 3 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 20.9:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 88.9% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Joshua Tree sees average highs of 60.0°F in January and 101.5°F in July, with 7.2 inches of annual precipitation and 0.8 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Joshua Tree, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 60.0°F |
| Average High — July | 101.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" |
Demographics
| Metric | Joshua Tree, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,751 | — |
| Median Age | 39.9 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 27.9 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 77.6% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 1.3% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 11.7% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 3.4% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 20.8% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: