SanMarcos1, 2001
Lake San Marcos’s story
Lake San Marcos in pictures
Census counts: 3,802 in 1990, 5,328 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2001 and 3 maps from 1893 on.
Explore the history →Lake San MarcosCA
The town has 4,693 residents and lies in California.
Population
4,693
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$917K
Census ACS
Household income
$90K
median
Median age
63.0
years
Jobs based here
677
A commuter town
TownGrade
B−
#184 of 841 in CA
What should you know before moving to Lake San Marcos?
Strong in places, weak in others. Health is its strong suit: CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 84% of the country. Lake San Marcos’s overall grade, B−, puts it better than 52% of U.S. towns. In the ranking it comes 184th of 841 in California. Schools are another plus: its schools outperform just over four fifths of the state's. Its weakest is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $917K, 8.6 years of the San Diego metro’s $106K median household income. It lags on hazard risk as well (C−): FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 83% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Lake San Marcos’ trail network density is 3.9 miles per square mile, against 1.0 in California’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns.
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · schools, state test and graduation results · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenStreetMap.
What makes Lake San Marcos stand out
Where Lake San Marcos beats most towns.
A growing town
Lake San Marcos has grown 20% from 2010 to 2020
4,437 counted in 2010 and 5,328 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
How Lake San Marcos grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Lake San Marcos is from typical.
Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesD−Open →Hazard riskInland flooding tops the listC−Open →HealthKaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos 2.5 miles awayA−Open →SchoolsIn the top fifth of the towns comparedA−Open →Jobs & income$90K median household incomeA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.4 of 20; 3.7% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsAbout average among the towns comparedBOpen →HistoryLittle recorded history by comparisonD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 100 attractions →Snapdragon Stadium and 67 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Lake San Marcos. Close and well known come first.
Big draw24 mi Stadium & arenaSnapdragon Stadium
6 mi Theme parkLegoland California
28 mi Stadium & arenaPetco Park
27 mi Zoo & aquariumSan Diego Zoo4.0M visitors a year
24 mi Theme parkSeaWorld San Diego4.0M visitors a year
12 mi Zoo & aquariumSan Diego Zoo Safari ParkSources: 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 · Legoland California: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jdigger/, CC BY 2.0 · Petco Park: Mds08011, CC BY 4.0 · San Diego Zoo: en:User:Cburnett, CC BY-SA 3.0 · SeaWorld San Diego: ZooFari, CC BY-SA 3.0 · San Diego Zoo Safari Park: Flickr user: Olivier Bruchez https://www.flickr.com/photos/bruchez/, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Getting set up
Moving to Lake San Marcos: who provides what
Lake San Marcos is unincorporated, so San Diego County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerSDG&E45.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterVallecitos WD water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% 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 code9207892078 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 Lake San Marcos.
Lake San Marcos has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, pairs an A− for schools with high home prices and has added a third more jobs in ten years.
#37for trails in CA
| Lake San Marcos | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 3.9 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 8% | 4.2% | 4.3% |
8%
conserved · 92 of 1,153 acres
7.1 mi
of trails · 3.9 per sq mi
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsA−
Lake San Marcos’ public schools outperform 81% of California districts
Its A− for schools comes with a D− for cost of living: the typical home is worth about $917K.
It has one school. Enrollment at Lake San Marcos’s public school: 90 students.
81%of CA districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Who lives here
Compared with most of California and the rest of the country, fewer of Lake San Marcos’ residents are under 18
Only 9 of the 847 California towns we compare have a higher midpoint age than Lake San Marcos. 36% of Lake San Marcos adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more.
63median age · CA 37.9
| Lake San Marcos | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 8.3% | 22% | 22% |
| Median age | 63 years | 39 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 36% | 29% | 29% |
Lake San MarcosCaliforniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
27%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma15%
High school14%
Some college25%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s21%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 43% and 66% women
The Census survey reached too few of Lake San Marcos’ residents to say more: its margin here is ±11.4 points. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Lake San Marcos | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 3.9% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 4.4% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.6% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 8.9% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 6.2% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.8% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14.5% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 19.9% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 26.8% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 14.6% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 14.2% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 25.1% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.4% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.4% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.3% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 4,700, single groups can be off by several points
HealthA−
Lake San Marcos stands out in California and nationally: a smaller share of its adults binge drink
30% of adults feel lonely in Lake San Marcos. Only 6 of the 847 California towns we compare have a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Lake San Marcos. The town beats the California average on 20 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 7.
84%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Lake San Marcos | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 16% | 16% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 17% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 83% | 72% | 79% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 35% | 36% |
32 measures vs. California
20 better5 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Lake San Marcos | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 7.5% | 17.9% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 6.4% | 14.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 15.8% | 6.4% |
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos
2.5 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
75th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Very high risk in Lake San Marcos, with inland flooding at the top
87% of Lake San Marcos’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by earthquakes at 10%.
83risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Most of Lake San Marcos’ workers commute out: the town has 0.3 jobs for each of them
Jobs based here grew from 480 in 2013 to 677.
The share of residents in Lake San Marcos who live below the poverty line: 6%. For most workers, Lake San Marcos is a place to come home to: only 1% work in town. Jobs based in Lake San Marcos grew to 677 in 2023, 197 more than in 2013. In Lake San Marcos, the typical journey to work is 24 minutes.
1%work in town
| Lake San Marcos | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 0.5% | 6.6% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $90,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Lake San Marcos1%
San Diego23%
Carlsbad15%
San Marcos12%
Escondido5%
11 mi
median commute distance
677
jobs based in Lake San Marcos
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 42% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Lake San Marcos: mild winters and pleasant summers
January nights average 45°, milder than in 97% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 81.6°.
The January low for Lake San Marcos comes to 45°F. Snow almost never falls.
84°summer high
| Lake San Marcos | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 45°F | 40°F | 22°F |
| July high | 82°F | 89°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter45–67°
Spring51–70°
Summer61–81°
Fall56–78°
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
84°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade D−
Homes in Lake San Marcos sell for about $1.14M
For households in Lake San Marcos, the share who live in a home they own is 79%. In Lake San Marcos, the median rent is $2,585 a month. A home in Lake San Marcos typically sold within 33 days of listing.
$1.14Mmedian sale price
| Lake San Marcos | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,585 a month | $1,895 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 79% | 64% | 73% |
Market temperature
33
days on market
98%
sale-to-list price
13
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Lake San Marcos
17pages on Lake San Marcos
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
6 within 15 miles of the center of Lake San Marcos
Palomar CollegeCommunity college · Public · San Marcos2.7 mi$1,354 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-San MarcosUniversity or college · Public · San Marcos3 mi$8,082 in-state tuitionUniversity of St. Augustine for Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private for-profit · San Marcos3.5 mi
About 2 of every 100 Lake San Marcos residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Lake San Marcos for work
Where Lake San Marcos’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
677jobs based in Lake San Marcos
1%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Lake San Marcos
Place in California, United States
Lake San Marcos is an unincorporated community in the North County region of the San Diego metropolitan area. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined the community as a census-designated place (CDP). Surrounded by the city of San Marcos, the county-governed area receives certain services from the city. As of the 2020 census, Lake San Marcos had a population of 5,328.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.8 sq mi
- Elevation
- 525 ft
- Area code
- 760
Lake San Marcos’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Lake San Marcos.
CarlsbadSan MarcosLake San Marcos
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake San Marcos | #184 | B− | D− | — | A− | A− |
| Carlsbad | #94 | B+ | D− | C+ | A | A+ |
| San Marcos | #100 | B+ | D− | B | A− | A− |
Lake San Marcos reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Lake San Marcos with a neighbor →
Questions about Lake San Marcos
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Lake San Marcos, CA a good place to live?
Lake San Marcos grades B− overall, better than 52% of U.S. towns and #184 of 841 in California. It grades A− for health and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Lake San Marcos, CA expensive?
Yes. The typical home is worth about $917,000, 20% above the California typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.