Robinson Hotel · National Register of Historic Places
Julian’s story
156 years in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1870Julian is settled
JulianCA
A town of 1,751, settled in 1870.
Warner's Ranch · Photo: Historic American Buildings Survey - Jack E. Boucher · Public domain
Population
1,751
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$558K
−1.5% in a year
Household income
$78K
median
Median age
53.8
years
Jobs based here
540
Balanced
Is Julian a good place to live?
The best of Julian’s subject grades is an A for health; the weakest is a D− for hazard risk. Julian’s average trip to work is 47 minutes, above both California’s towns (28 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Only 27 of California’s 1,064 towns score lower on hazard risk. The typical home is worth about $558K, 5.3 years of the San Diego metro’s $106K median household income. Julian’s trail density is 2.2 miles per square mile, above both the California town median (1.0) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4). Warner's Ranch and Robinson Hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places. Julian has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Julian stand out
Where Julian beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A growing town
Julian has grown 18% from 2010 to 2020
1,502 counted in 2010 and 1,768 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
How Julian grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Julian is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 100% of U.S. communities; wildfire tops the listD−Open →Cost of livingDOpen →HealthPalomar Medical Center Poway 27.7 miles awayAOpen →SchoolsC+Open →Jobs & income$78K median household incomeC+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.5 of 20; 0% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+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.
ClimateCold winters, 89° summer afternoons, 6″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives here–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
Moving to Julian: who provides what
Julian is unincorporated, so San Diego County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerSDG&E45.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMajestic Pines Community Sd water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers92% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesSan Diego CountySan Diego County provides services here
SchoolsJulian Union High School DistrictJulian Union Elementary School District2 districts serve Julian; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
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 code9203692036 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 Julian.
Who lives here
44% of residents are 65 or older
People 65 and older are 44% of residents (16% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 25% of residents (39% statewide). The median age in Julian is 53.8 years. 34% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 37% across California.
53.8median age · CA 37.9
| Julian | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.8 years | 39 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 34% | 29% | 29% |
JulianCaliforniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
33%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school25%
Some college24%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s11%
Graduate23%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 40% and 61% women
The Census survey reached too few of Julian’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±10.2 points. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Julian | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 6.7% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.5% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 4.7% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.2% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 7.7% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.6% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 4.7% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 32.8% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11.1% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.2% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 25.4% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 23.7% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.8% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 11% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 22.8% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,800, single groups can be off by several points
SchoolsC+
Julian’s public schools trail 62% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the Brookfield Engineering Science Technology Academy District. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Brookfield Engineering Science Technology Academy, with 693 students.
38%of CA districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julian ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 189 | – |
| Julian HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 112 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Julian stands out in California and nationally: the FEMA risk score there is higher
Julian’s FEMA risk score is 100 of 100.
100risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
WildfireInland floodingEarthquakes
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthA
On CDC estimates, Julian is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns
Julian beats the California average on 17 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 30% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Julian.
90%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Julian | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 35% | 36% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 29% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 24% | 25% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 9% | 11% | 14% |
32 measures vs. California
17 better12 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Julian | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5.3% | 10.6% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 5.3% | 10.6% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11% | 6.4% |
Palomar Medical Center Poway
27.7 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade D
Julian earns a D for cost of living
87% of Julian households own their home. The typical Julian home is worth about $558,000, down 1.5% in a year, 27% below the California typical home.
$558KZillow home value
| Julian | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 87% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,860 a month | $1,896 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Julian$558K
California$762K
−1.5%
value change, 1 year
4
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsB+
Conserved land covers 18.2% of Julian
The biggest park or preserve is Cleveland National Forest, at 589 acres.
18.2%conserved
18.2%
conserved · 914 of 5,027 acres
17 mi
of trails · 2.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Jess Martin County Park | 0.5 mi | 9 |
| 2. Cleveland National Forest | — | 589 |
| 3. Frank Lane Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
In Julian, expect four seasons and hot summers
Julian has mild winters and warm summers, with very little rain. July afternoons reach 88°, January nights drop to 35° and about 6 inches of snow falls in a winter.
6″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter35–56°
Spring40–66°
Summer56–86°
Fall46–73°
Dec 1
typical first frost
Mar 27
typical last frost
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C+
About one in five working residents works right in Julian
About one in 5 of Julian’s working residents works in town. Jobs based in Julian fell to 540 in 2023, 442 fewer than in 2013. The top destinations are San Diego (24%), Los Angeles (5%) and Ramona (2%).
20%work in town
| Julian | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 20% | 6.6% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $78,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Julian20%
San Diego24%
Los Angeles5%
Ramona2%
Carlsbad2%
35 mi
median commute distance
540
jobs based in Julian
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 42% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Nearby attractions
All 82 attractions →Snapdragon Stadium and 19 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Julian. Close and well known come first.
Big draw37 mi Stadium & arenaSnapdragon Stadium
40 mi Park & preserveBalboa Park
17 mi State parkAnza-Borrego Desert State Park
24 mi Zoo & aquariumSan Diego Zoo Safari Park39 mi Park & preserveCerutti Mastodon site
20 mi National forestCleveland National ForestSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Snapdragon Stadium: Terrible Tim, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Balboa Park: Antoine Taveneaux, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: No machine-readable author provided. Miskatonic assumed (based on copyright clai, CC BY 2.5 · San Diego Zoo Safari Park: Flickr user: Olivier Bruchez https://www.flickr.com/photos/bruchez/, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Cleveland National Forest: Michael Romanov, Public domain
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Julian
17pages on Julian
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Julian; the nearest are
Southern California SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · El Cajon26.4 mi$19,080 tuitionGrossmont CollegeCommunity college · Public · El Cajon30.1 mi$1,332 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-San MarcosUniversity or college · Public · San Marcos33.2 mi$8,082 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Julian residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
Questions about Julian
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Julian, CA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.