California - Golden State through High Head Reservoir, 1917
Lucerne Valley’s story
114 years in pictures
The archive holds 10 old photos and papers going back to 1917 and 2 maps from 1947 on.
- 1912Lucerne Valley is settled
Lucerne ValleyCA
Home to 5,957 people, the town was settled in 1912.
Photo: TOLocal · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
5,957
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$256K
+1.9% in a year
Household income
$55K
median
Median age
45.5
years
Jobs based here
915
A commuter town
TownGrade
D−
#764 of 841 in CA
Is Lucerne Valley a good place to live?
More weak spots than strong ones. The weak point is incomes (D−) — the median household income is $55K, and 22% of residents live below the poverty line. A typical home there costs about $256K, 2.9 years of the Riverside metro’s $90K median household income. It also trails on health (D): residents are less healthy than 92% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. Overall, that makes a D−, better than 3% of U.S. towns. That places it 764th of 841 in California. Hazard risk is weaker too: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 90% of U.S. communities, with earthquakes at the top. Lucerne Valley’s average commute is 39 minutes, above both California’s towns (28 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes).
Figures: incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · health, CDC PLACES · home values, Zillow · FEMA National Risk Index.
Get outside
316 miles of trails in Lucerne Valley
1.9% of the town is conserved land, across 3 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Lucerne Valley grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Lucerne Valley is from typical.
Jobs & incomeAmong the weakest of the towns comparedD−Open →Hazard riskEarthquakes top the listDOpen →HealthBear Valley Community Hospital 13.6 miles awayDOpen →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.9 of 20; 6.9% of households have no car; 4.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →Cost of livingAbout average among the towns comparedB−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.
Housing market43 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 45.5; 21% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
Moving to Lucerne Valley: who provides what
Lucerne Valley is unincorporated, so San Bernardino County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerSouthern California Edison31.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterGolden State Water Co - LucerneNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers49% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesSan Bernardino CountySan Bernardino 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 Bernardino Registrar of VotersSan Bernardino County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2025
ZIP code9235692356 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 Lucerne Valley.
Lucerne Valley has more 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns and has homes that are cheap against local pay, but it has poverty well above the California rate.
OutdoorsC+
Open space protected for good: 1.9% of Lucerne Valley
In Lucerne Valley, the density of trails is 3.0 miles per square mile. 316 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves.
#81for trails in CA
| Lucerne Valley | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 3.0 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 1.9% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
1.9%
conserved · 1,281 of 67,311 acres
316 mi
of trails · 3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pioneer Park | — | 17 |
| 2. Midway Park & Arena | — | 5 |
| 3. Russell Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC
Lucerne Valley’s schools rank behind 70% of California districts
Of its 6 schools, two are listed below, each with the reason. The largest public high school is Granite Mountain Charter, with 4,393 students. The 6 public schools in Lucerne Valley teach 6,077 students between them.
30%of CA districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucerne Valley ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–6 | Grades K–6 | 646 | – |
| Lucerne Valley HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 322 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade B−
Lucerne Valley’s grade for cost of living is a B−
At 2.9 years of the Riverside metro’s $90K median household income, the typical home (about $256K) costs less against local pay than in 98% of California towns; that ratio is one input to that grade. The typical value, about $256K, is 8% below its June 2022 peak.
The typical Lucerne Valley home is worth about $256,000, up 1.9% in a year, 66% below the California typical home. The town’s rent at the middle of the market is $1,181 a month. A home in Lucerne Valley typically sold within 43 days of listing.
$256KZillow home value
| Lucerne Valley | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,181 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 76% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Lucerne Valley$256K
California$762K
Market temperature
43
days on market
97.4%
sale-to-list price
+1.9%
value change, 1 year
6
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
HealthD
A larger share of adults in Lucerne Valley have diabetes than in the typical California or U.S. town
This California town beats the California average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 24. In Lucerne Valley, 43% of adults have high blood pressure.
8%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Lucerne Valley | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 22% | 19% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 12% | 12% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 31% | 35% |
32 measures vs. California
1 better7 too close to call24 worse
| What stands out | Lucerne Valley | CA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 75.6% | 71.3% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.5% | 5.1% |
Bear Valley Community Hospital
13.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
5th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Very high risk in Lucerne Valley, with earthquakes at the top
44% of Lucerne Valley’s expected losses from natural hazards come from earthquakes, followed by inland flooding at 43%. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Lucerne Valley after 4 declared disasters, most recently in 2023.
90risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland floodingWildfire
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
With 0.4 jobs for every working resident, most of Lucerne Valley’s workers commute out
The average commute for its 2,563 working residents takes 39.2 minutes, against 28.7 across California. Jobs based here grew from 420 in 2013 to 915.
Half commute less than 64 miles. Jobs in Lucerne Valley grew by 495 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 915. Commuting out is the norm here: 6% of working residents work locally. The top destinations are Los Angeles (10%), Victorville (5%) and Apple Valley (4%).
6%work in town
| Lucerne Valley | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 39 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 22% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $55,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Lucerne Valley6%
Los Angeles10%
Victorville5%
Apple Valley4%
Hesperia3%
64 mi
median commute distance
915
jobs based in Lucerne Valley
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 46% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
The climate in Lucerne Valley brings mild winters and hot summers
The Victorville weather station, 23 miles away, records that about 119 days a year reach 90°, more than in 98% of U.S. towns. July afternoons average 97.5°, hotter than in 98% of U.S. towns; January nights average 34.3°.
Snow almost never falls. The July high for Lucerne Valley comes to 98°F.
98°summer high
| Lucerne Valley | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 98°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 34°F | 41°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter34–61°
Spring45–75°
Summer62–96°
Fall48–80°
Nov 11
typical first frost
Mar 18
typical last frost
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
98°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Nearby attractions
All 55 attractions →Joshua Tree National Park and 17 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Lucerne Valley. Close and well known come first.
Big draw36 mi National ParkJoshua Tree National Park2.9M visitors a year
15 mi LakeBig Bear Lake
24 mi MountainSan Gorgonio Mountain
36 mi Ancient siteCalico Early Man Site
33 mi TheatreGlen Helen Amphitheater
18 mi Ski areaSnow Valley Mountain Resort42 runs · 1,109 ft verticalSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Joshua Tree National Park: Sergiy Galyonkin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Big Bear Lake: H.G. Judd, CC BY-SA 3.0 · San Gorgonio Mountain: Doc Searls, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Calico Early Man Site: Ellen Levy Finch (Elf), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Glen Helen Amphitheater: Alonzo, CC BY 2.0 · Snow Valley Mountain Resort: Me, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Lucerne Valley
17pages on Lucerne Valley
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Lucerne Valley; the nearest are
Victor Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · Victorville20.6 mi$1,425 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-San BernardinoUniversity or college · Public · San Bernardino30 mi$8,093 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Lucerne Valley residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Lucerne Valley for work
Where Lucerne Valley’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
915jobs based in Lucerne Valley
6%of working residents work in town
64 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Lucerne Valley
Census-designated place in California, United States
Lucerne Valley is a census-designated place (CDP) and valley landform in the southern Mojave Desert, in western San Bernardino County, California. As of the 2020 census, Lucerne Valley had a population of 5,331.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 106 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,953 ft
- ZIP code
- 92356
- Area code
- 760
Questions about Lucerne Valley
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Lucerne Valley, CA a good place to live?
Lucerne Valley grades D− overall, better than 3% of U.S. towns and #764 of 841 in California. It grades D for health and C for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Lucerne Valley, 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−.