What are the schools like in Lucerne, CA?

Lucerne is served primarily by Lucerne Elementary. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 20.2:1.

What is the median household income in Lucerne?

The median household income in Lucerne, CA is $46,026 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.1%.

What is the weather like in Lucerne, CA?

Lucerne has an average high temperature of 54.8°F in January and 91.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.4 inches.

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

Q: Is Lucerne, CA affordable or expensive?

Lucerne's cost of living index is 102, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lucerne is 2% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $237,800 and the median rent is $1,030 per month.

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

Lucerne has a violent crime rate of 759.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1281.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lucerne, CA a Good Place to Live?

Lucerne is a small town of 3,085 in California, with a median household income of $46,026 and a 9.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 102 (US average = 100), which is 2% above the national average.

Strengths: Lucerne stands out for below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lucerne is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lucerne 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: 102.1

Lucerne's overall cost of living index is 102.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lucerne costs roughly 2% more than the average American city.

Metric	Lucerne, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$237,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,030	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,026	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Lucerne's violent crime rate is 759.5 per 100,000 residents — 100% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

759.5 /100k

Property Crime

1281.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Lucerne is served primarily by Lucerne Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lucerne, CA	National Avg
School District	Lucerne Elementary	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	20.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lucerne sees average highs of 54.8°F in January and 91.4°F in July, with 39.6 inches of annual precipitation and 0.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lucerne, CA
Average High — January	54.8°F
Average High — July	91.4°F
Annual Precipitation	39.6"
Annual Snowfall	0.4"

Demographics

Metric	Lucerne, CA	National Avg
Population	3,085	—
Median Age	37.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	31.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	74.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.7%	18.9%
Asian	5.8%	6.3%
Under 18	15.5%	22.2%
65 and over	20.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Soda Bay, CA 4 mi Clearlake Oaks, CA 7 mi Nice, CA 7 mi Kelseyville, CA 7 mi Clearlake Riviera, CA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Lucerne

Lucerne, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

95458

Lucerne vs Other Cities

Lucerne, CA vs Soda Bay, CA Lucerne, CA vs Clearlake Oaks, CA Lucerne, CA vs Nice, CA Lucerne, CA vs Kelseyville, CA Lucerne, CA vs Clearlake Riviera, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lucerne, CA affordable or expensive?

Lucerne's cost of living index is 102, where 100 is the national average. That puts Lucerne roughly 2% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $237,800 and median rent is $1,030/month.

What is the crime rate in Lucerne, CA?

Lucerne's violent crime rate is 759.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1281.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lucerne?

Public schools in Lucerne are operated by Lucerne Elementary. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.2:1. 13.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lucerne, CA a good place to live?

Lucerne, CA has a population of 3,085, a median household income of $46,026, and an unemployment rate of 9.1%. 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 Lucerne?

Lucerne averages 54.8°F in January and 91.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.6 inches with about 0.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lucerne?

Lucerne, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 95458.

What is the population of Lucerne?

The population of Lucerne, California is 3,085 with a median age of 37.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lucerne?

Key numbers for living in Lucerne: cost of living index 102 (100 = US average), median home $237,800, median household income $46,026, crime index 144 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lucerne side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.