What are the schools like in California, MO?

California is served primarily by MONITEAU CO. R-I. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.8:1.

What is the median household income in California?

The median household income in California, MO is $60,070 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.9%.

What is the weather like in California, MO?

California has an average high temperature of 39.8°F in January and 87.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 9.7 inches.

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

Q: Is California, MO affordable or expensive?

California's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means California is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $123,000 and the median rent is $753 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in California, MO?

Crime rate data for California is not currently available from the FBI's reported data.

Is California, MO a Good Place to Live?

California is a small town of 4,520 in Missouri, with a median household income of $60,070 and a 4.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: California stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether California is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All California 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: 87.7

California's overall cost of living index is 87.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in California costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	California, MO	National Avg
Median Home Value	$123,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$753	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,070	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Crime data for California is not currently available from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Not all local agencies report to the UCR each year.

Schools & Education

California is served primarily by MONITEAU CO. R-I. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	California, MO	National Avg
School District	MONITEAU CO. R-I	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	15.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

California sees average highs of 39.8°F in January and 87.8°F in July, with 41.4 inches of annual precipitation and 9.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	California, MO
Average High — January	39.8°F
Average High — July	87.8°F
Annual Precipitation	41.4"
Annual Snowfall	9.7"

Demographics

Metric	California, MO	National Avg
Population	4,520	—
Median Age	36.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	23.1%	22.2%
65 and over	16.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Clarksburg, MO 6 mi Latham, MO 8 mi Centertown, MO 9 mi Jamestown, MO 11 mi Russellville, MO 11 mi

ZIP Codes in California

California, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code:

65018

California vs Other Cities

California, MO vs Clarksburg, MO California, MO vs Latham, MO California, MO vs Centertown, MO California, MO vs Jamestown, MO California, MO vs Russellville, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is California, MO affordable or expensive?

California's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes California roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $123,000 and median rent is $753/month.

What is the crime rate in California, MO?

Crime data for California is not available in the current FBI UCR reporting year. Not all jurisdictions submit data annually.

What are the schools like in California?

Public schools in California are operated by MONITEAU CO. R-I. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.8:1. 15.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is California, MO a good place to live?

California, MO has a population of 4,520, a median household income of $60,070, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. 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 California?

California averages 39.8°F in January and 87.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.4 inches with about 9.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in California?

California, MO is covered by 1 ZIP code: 65018.

What is the population of California?

The population of California, Missouri is 4,520 with a median age of 36.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in California?

Key numbers for living in California: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $123,000, median household income $60,070, schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare California side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.