Median Income
$41,154
household / year
Median Home Value
$126,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$694
gross / month
Cost of Living
96
national avg = 100

Is Tulelake, CA a Good Place to Live?

Tulelake is a small town of 811 in California, with a median household income of $41,154 and a 11.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Tulelake stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

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

All Tulelake 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: 95.8

Tulelake's overall cost of living index is 95.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Tulelake costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric Tulelake, CA National Avg
Median Home Value $126,900 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $694 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 62.9% 65.9%
Median Household Income $41,154 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Tulelake's violent crime rate is 486.9 per 100,000 residents — 28% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
486.9 /100k
Property Crime
847.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Tulelake is served primarily by Tulelake Basin Joint Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Tulelake, CA National Avg
School District Tulelake Basin Joint Unified —
Elementary Schools 1 —
Middle Schools N/A —
High Schools 2 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 17.8:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 5.5% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 59.8% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Tulelake sees average highs of 42.4°F in January and 86.3°F in July, with 10.7 inches of annual precipitation and 22.8 inches of snow per year.

MetricTulelake, CA
Average High — January42.4°F
Average High — July86.3°F
Annual Precipitation10.7"
Annual Snowfall22.8"

Demographics

MetricTulelake, CANational Avg
Population811—
Median Age39.438.9
Unemployment Rate11.9%3.7%
Avg Commute Time22.4 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)74.1%59.3%
Black or African American0.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino25.6%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1830.1%22.2%
65 and over19.5%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Malin, OR 5 mi Newell, CA 7 mi Merrill, OR 8 mi Bonanza, OR 17 mi Falcon Heights, OR 19 mi

Tulelake vs Other Cities

Tulelake, CA vs Malin, OR Tulelake, CA vs Newell, CA Tulelake, CA vs Merrill, OR Tulelake, CA vs Bonanza, OR Tulelake, CA vs Falcon Heights, OR

Frequently Asked Questions

Tulelake's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Tulelake roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $126,900 and median rent is $694/month.
Tulelake's violent crime rate is 486.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 847.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Tulelake are operated by Tulelake Basin Joint Unified. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1. 5.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Tulelake, CA has a population of 811, a median household income of $41,154, and an unemployment rate of 11.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Tulelake averages 42.4°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 10.7 inches with about 22.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Tulelake, California is 811 with a median age of 39.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Tulelake: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $126,900, median household income $41,154, crime index 93 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Tulelake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.