Is Lake Isabella, CA a Good Place to Live?
Lake Isabella is a small town of 3,514 in California, with a median household income of $27,116 and a 10.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 102 (US average = 100), which is 2% above the national average.
Strengths: Lake Isabella stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lake Isabella is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lake Isabella 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: 102.2Lake Isabella's overall cost of living index is 102.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lake Isabella costs roughly 2% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Lake Isabella, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $121,700 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.3% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $27,116 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Higher than AverageLake Isabella's violent crime rate is 723.4 per 100,000 residents — 90% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lake Isabella is served primarily by Kernville Union Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Lake Isabella, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Kernville Union Elementary | — |
| Elementary Schools | 2 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 19.6:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 6.4% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 91.7% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Lake Isabella sees average highs of 59.1°F in January and 98.1°F in July, with 11.8 inches of annual precipitation and 6.2 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Lake Isabella, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 59.1°F |
| Average High — July | 98.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | Lake Isabella, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,514 | — |
| Median Age | 40.5 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 18.6 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 76.5% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.3% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13.8% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 1.1% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 30.7% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 19.9% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Lake Isabella
Lake Isabella, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: