Rumsey Branch of SP 1905, 1905
Clearlake’s story
103 years in pictures
Census counts: 11,804 in 1990, 16,685 in 2020. The archive holds 15 old photos and papers going back to 1905 and 4 maps from 1945 on.
- 1923Clearlake is settled
Photo: Eggsy-B · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
16,893
2025 Census estimate · +1.2% since 2020
Typical home
$205K
−2.7% in a year
Household income
$42K
median
Median age
38.8
years
Jobs based here
2,878
A commuter town
TownGrade
D−
#837 of 841 in CA
Is Clearlake a good place to live?
Clearlake grades D− overall, 837th of 841 graded towns in California, mostly because of incomes and health. The median household income is $42K, and 26% of residents live below the poverty line. Residents are less healthy than 94% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. What it does well: it is more walkable than 91% of U.S. towns. Clearlake’s rate of reported violence is 7.2 per 1,000 residents, where California’s towns sit at 2.9 and U.S. towns at 1.6. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 95% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Clearlake's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 90% of U.S. towns.
What makes Clearlake stand out
Where Clearlake beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
How Clearlake grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Clearlake is from typical.
Its grades run from A for walkability (better than 91% of comparable towns) to D− for jobs and income (better than 1%), so the D− overall blends very different results.
Jobs & incomeD−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listD−Open →HealthAdventist Health Clearlake 1 miles awayDOpen →SafetyDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.7 of 20; 8.8% of households have no carAOpen →SchoolsC−Open →Cost of livingC−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3% conserved landBOpen →History1 notable person born hereDOpen →Civic life2.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 93° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market91 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 38.8; 8% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Clearlake: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Clearlake, and how to reach them.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHighlands Mutual Water CompanyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
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 hereLake County Registrar of VotersLake County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2025
ZIP code9542295422 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.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Clearlake.
Clearlake is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has a longer frost-free season than most of the country, though not than most of California; it also has poverty well above the California rate.
HousingCost of living grade C−
Clearlake’s typical home value is about $205K
The typical value, about $205K, is 19% below its May 2022 peak. At about $205K, home values are down 10% in five years, against a rise of 13% across California.
Clearlake’s typical rent stands at $1,240 a month. For households here, the share who own their home is 60%. A home in Clearlake typically sold within 91 days of listing.
$205KZillow home value
| Clearlake | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 60% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,240 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Clearlake$205K
California$762K
Market temperature
91
days on market
96.7%
sale-to-list price
−2.7%
value change, 1 year
12
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsC−
Clearlake’s schools rank behind 85% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the Konocti Unified school district. Below: Two of its 6 schools, each with why it was picked.
15%of CA districts it outscoresC−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| PomoLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–7 | Grades K–7 | 702 | D− |
| Richard H. Lewis AlternativeLargest public high schoolGrades K–12 | Grades K–12 | 118 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
HealthD
More of Clearlake’s adults smoke cigarettes than in the typical California or U.S. town
Against the 2,980 U.S. towns with household incomes like Clearlake’s, it is less healthy than 70%, so its D isn’t only a matter of income.
Among adults in Clearlake, 38% sleep under 7 hours. In Clearlake, just over a third of adults say their health is fair or poor.
6%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Clearlake | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 22% | 19% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 11% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 14% | 14% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 16% | 14% |
32 measures vs. California
0 better9 too close to call23 worse
| What stands out | Clearlake | CA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 11.4% | 5.1% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 22.3% | 10.6% |
| More smokers | 20.9% | 10.9% |
Adventist Health Clearlake
1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
4th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyD
Clearlake sees more crime per resident than 92% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 538 to 432 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Clearlake’s level of property crime is 18.8 per 1,000 residents.
8%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Clearlake7.2
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Clearlake18.8
California18.2
U.S.15.5
8th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
11th
percentile among CA towns
120
violent crimes reported in 2025
312
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
OutdoorsB
Conservation land takes up 2.6% of Clearlake
The density of trails for Clearlake comes to 1.6 miles per square mile. Trails total 17 miles in 2 parks and preserves. Parks and preserves in the town: 2, covering 31 acres.
#232for trails in CA
| Clearlake | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.6 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.6% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
2.6%
conserved · 174 of 6,732 acres
17 mi
of trails · 1.6 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Redbud Park | 0.3 mi | 16 |
| 2. Austin Park | — | 15 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
The biggest natural risk in Clearlake is inland flooding, at a very high overall level
66 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 12 properties have flooded more than once.
62% of Clearlake’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by earthquakes at 35%. Since 1986, Clearlake has seen 66 flood insurance claims paid out. Households in the town have drawn federal disaster aid in 6 declared disasters, most recently in 2021.
95risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakes
66
paid flood claims since 1986
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
Clearlake stands out in California and nationally, with the median household income lower than most
Roughly one working resident in four has a job in Clearlake itself. For Clearlake, the mean commuting time is 33 minutes. Jobs based in Clearlake grew to 2,878 in 2023, 422 more than in 2013. The median commute is under 18 miles.
25%work in town
| Clearlake | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 25% | 6.6% | 8% |
| Median household income | $42,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 33 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Clearlake25%
Lakeport6%
Santa Rosa5%
Lower Lake4%
Clearlake Oaks3%
18 mi
median commute distance
2,878
jobs based in Clearlake
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 91% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Clearlake
The Clearlake 4 Se weather station records that the frost-free season runs about 209 days: longer than most of the country, but shorter than 85% of California places with climate records. January nights average 34.7°: milder than most of the country, but colder than 82% of California places with climate records; July afternoons average 92.8°.
The January low in Clearlake is 35°F. It almost never snows. Snow is almost unheard of.
93°summer high
| Clearlake | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 93°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 35°F | 41°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–56°
Spring42–69°
Summer55–90°
Fall45–76°
Nov 6
typical first frost
Apr 10
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
93°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Clearlake
20pages on Clearlake
The big questions
SchoolsC−Behind 85% of CA districts · 6 schoolsSafetyD7.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than CA on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$205K typical home · down 2.7% in a yearWork & commuteD−$42K median household income · 2,878 jobs hereNatural hazardsD−FEMA risk higher than 95% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Clearlake; the nearest are
Pacific Union CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Angwin28.8 mi$37,173 tuitionSanta Rosa Junior CollegeCommunity college · Public · Santa Rosa35.1 mi$1,318 in-state tuitionSonoma State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Rohnert Park42.9 mi$8,624 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Clearlake residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About Clearlake
City in California, United States
Clearlake is a city in Lake County, California, United States. Clearlake is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north-northwest of Lower Lake, at an elevation of 1,417 feet (432 m). As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 16,685, up from 15,250 in the 2010 census. It takes its name from Clear Lake.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1980
- Area
- 11 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,417 ft
- ZIP code
- 95422
- Area code
- 707
Clearlake’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Clearlake.
Lower LakeClearlake
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearlake | #837 | D− | C− | D | C− | D |
| Lower Lake | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Lower Lake isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Clearlake with a neighbor →
Questions about Clearlake
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Clearlake, CA a good place to live?
Clearlake grades D− overall, in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns and #837 of 841 in California. It grades D for health, D for safety and C− for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Clearlake, CA expensive?
Yes. That is 3.4 years of the area's median household income ($60,621 across the Clearlake, CA area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.