Culver PQ-14 N2775, 1991
Borrego Springs’s story
77 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,405 in 1980, 3,073 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1991 and 2 maps from 1941 on.
- 1949Borrego Springs is settled
Photo: Perdelsky at English Wikipedia · Public domain
Population
2,700
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$366K
−6% in a year
Household income
$86K
median
Median age
60.9
years
Jobs based here
629
A commuter town
Settled
1949
77 years ago
What should you know before moving to Borrego Springs?
Where it falls short is hazard risk: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 99% of U.S. communities, with earthquakes at the top. Schools are weaker too (C−): its schools rank behind 76% of the state's. A typical home there costs about $366K, 3.4 years of the San Diego metro’s $106K median household income. Health is its strong suit: CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 69% of the country. The overall grade comes out at C−, 450th of 841 in California. Set against the rest, it does better than 25% of U.S. towns. Borrego Springs has 1 place on the National Register. Just over two in five residents are 65 or older in the town, against 16% in California’s towns and 18% across U.S. towns.
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · FEMA National Risk Index · schools, state test and graduation results · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · National Register of Historic Places.
How Borrego Springs grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Borrego Springs is from typical.
Hazard riskEarthquakes top the listD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.6 of 20; 3.8% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →SchoolsBased on how pupils do in exams and testsC−Open →HealthJohn F Kennedy Memorial Hospital 32.9 miles awayB+Open →Cost of livingNear typical for the towns comparedBOpen →Jobs & income$86K median household incomeC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes Borrego Springs stand out
Where Borrego Springs beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A shrinking town
Borrego Springs has shrunk 10% from 2010 to 2020
3,429 counted in 2010 and 3,073 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Borrego Springs.
Borrego Springs is a second-home town and has more 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns, but it is a long drive from an emergency room.
Who lives here
In Borrego Springs, the median age runs higher than in the typical California or U.S. town
60.9median age · CA 37.9
36% of homes are seasonal or vacation homes, against 2.4% statewide, which helps explain the older median age.
The bachelor’s-degree share among adults 25 and older is 32%, against 37% across California. 41% of Borrego Springs residents are 65 or older.
| Borrego Springs | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 41% | 16% | 18% |
| Median age | 60.9 years | 39 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 32% | 29% | 29% |
Borrego SpringsCaliforniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
22%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma12%
High school24%
Some college22%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s25%
Graduate8%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 37% and 61% women
The Census survey reached too few of Borrego Springs’ residents to say more: its margin here is ±12.1 points. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Borrego Springs | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 0% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 5.4% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.9% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 5.2% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 3.7% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 18.4% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 21.7% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 20.4% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 20.3% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 11.8% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 23.8% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.4% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.7% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.5% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.8% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,700, single groups can be off by several points
SchoolsC−
For schools, Borrego Springs earns a C−
24%of CA districts it outscoresC−School Grade
Two of the 3 schools are below, and why each made the list. The public schools here belong to the Borrego Springs Unified school district. The 3 public schools in Borrego Springs teach 344 students between them.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borrego Springs ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 153 | C− |
| Borrego Springs HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 108 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Natural hazards: very high risk in Borrego Springs, mostly earthquakes
99risk score of 100
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Borrego Springs after 4 declared disasters, most recently in 2024. Expected losses in Borrego Springs break down as 36% from earthquakes and 33% from wildfires.
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesWildfireInland flooding
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade B
For cost of living, Borrego Springs earns a B
$366KZillow home value
The typical value, about $366K, is 16% below its July 2022 peak.
Typical home values fell 6% in the year to September 2026. Borrego Springs’ going rate for rent stands at $1,004 a month. Among households locally, 72% live in a home they own.
| Borrego Springs | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,004 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 72% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Borrego Springs$366K
California$762K
−6%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsA
In Borrego Springs, 12.9% of the land is conserved
#332for trails in CA
Borrego Springs’ trail network density comes in at 1.2 miles per square mile. 50 miles of trail wind through 4 parks and preserves. The biggest place to walk is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, 1,744 acres with 4.6 miles of trail.
12.9%
conserved · 3,572 of 27,658 acres
50 mi
of trails · 1.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park | 4.6 mi | 1,744 |
| 2. Borrego Springs County Park | 1 mi | 18 |
| 3. Anza-Borrego Desert State Wilderness | 0.8 mi | 717 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
With only 0.7 jobs per working resident, most people in Borrego Springs work out of town
27%work in town
The median commute is under 49 miles. For working residents in Borrego Springs, the share who work locally is 27%. Jobs based locally fell to 629 in 2023, 67 fewer than in 2013. The top destinations are San Diego (16%), Los Angeles (3%) and Carlsbad (2%).
| Borrego Springs | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 27% | 6.6% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $86,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Borrego Springs27%
San Diego16%
Los Angeles3%
Carlsbad2%
Escondido2%
49 mi
median commute distance
629
jobs based in Borrego Springs
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 19% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
A larger share of adults had a checkup this year in Borrego Springs than in most of California or the rest of the country
69%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
The nearest emergency room, John F Kennedy Memorial Hospital, is 32.9 miles away in a straight line.
In Borrego Springs, just over one in ten adults worry about having enough food. Against the California average, Borrego Springs comes out ahead on 13 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 8. Two figures for adults locally: 13% report frequent mental distress, 40% have high blood pressure.
| Borrego Springs | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 17% | 17% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 31% | 35% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 29% | 35% |
32 measures vs. California
13 better11 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Borrego Springs | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 4.4% | 7.3% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 11.5% | 17.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 13.2% | 6.4% |
John F Kennedy Memorial Hospital
32.9 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
58th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Expect mild winters and hot summers in Borrego Springs
105°summer high
The Borrego Desert Park weather station records that about 177 days a year reach 90°, more than in 99% of U.S. towns. January nights average 41.6°, milder than in 95% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 104.8°.
Snow is a rarity. In Borrego Springs, the typical July afternoon high is 105°F.
| Borrego Springs | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 105°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 42°F | 40°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter42–71°
Spring53–85°
Summer69–103°
Fall56–89°
+2.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
105°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Borrego Springs
17pages on Borrego Springs
The big questions
Out and about
Getting set up
Moving to Borrego Springs: who provides what
Borrego Springs is unincorporated, so San Diego County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerSDG&E45.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBorrego WD water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet1 providers87% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesSan Diego CountySan Diego County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSan Diego Registrar of VotersSan Diego County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025
ZIP code9200492004 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Borrego Springs; the nearest are
College of the DesertCommunity college · Public · Palm Desert34 mi$1,326 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-San MarcosUniversity or college · Public · San Marcos47 mi$8,082 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Borrego Springs residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About Borrego Springs
Census-designated place in California, United States
Borrego Springs is a census-designated place (CDP) in northeastern San Diego County, California. It is located within the Low Desert area of Southern California. The population was 3,073 at the 2020 census. Borrego Springs is surrounded by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 43 sq mi
- Elevation
- 597 ft
- ZIP code
- 92004
- Area code
- 760
Questions about Borrego Springs
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Borrego Springs, CA a good place to live?
Borrego Springs grades C− overall, better than 25% of U.S. towns and #450 of 841 in California. It grades B+ for health and C− for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Borrego Springs, CA expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B.
Borrego Springs is in here
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