Is Prunedale, CA a Good Place to Live?
Prunedale is a small city of 19,372 in California, with a median household income of $106,150 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.
Strengths: Prunedale's profile is close to national averages across most measures.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Prunedale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Prunedale 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: 113.0Prunedale's overall cost of living index is 113.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Prunedale costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Prunedale, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $697,900 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,746 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.7% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $106,150 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Safer than AveragePrunedale's violent crime rate is 424.1 per 100,000 residents — 12% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Prunedale is served primarily by Oasis Charter Public District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Prunedale, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Oasis Charter Public District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 22.1:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 80.5% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Prunedale sees average highs of 62.0°F in January and 71.1°F in July, with 21.3 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | Prunedale, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 62.0°F |
| Average High — July | 71.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | Prunedale, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,372 | — |
| Median Age | 39.1 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 34.6 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 52.5% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.7% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 33.9% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 5.9% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 17.8% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Prunedale
Prunedale, CA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: