Mammoth Lakes, California, 2012
Mammoth Lakes’s story
146 years in pictures
Census counts: 473 in 1880, 7,191 in 2020. The archive holds 23 old photos and papers going back to 2012 and 3 maps from 1953 on.
- 1880Mammoth Lakes is settled
Photo: Perfect Zero from Los Angeles, CA, US · CC BY 2.0
Population
6,867
2025 Census estimate · −4.6% since 2020
Typical home
$818K
+3.1% in a year
Household income
$98K
median
Median age
41.3
years
Jobs based here
5,308
A job hub
TownGrade
C+
#323 of 841 in CA
Is Mammoth Lakes a good place to live?
Mammoth Lakes's standout: it has 77 miles of trail and 84% conserved land. Overall it grades C+, 323rd of 841 graded towns in California. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 79% of the country and it is more walkable than 93% of U.S. towns. Its weakest subject is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $818K, 8.2 years of the county’s $99K median household income. 52% of working residents work locally in Mammoth Lakes, against 6.6% in California’s towns and 8% across U.S. towns. The biggest park or preserve is John Muir Wilderness, at 71 acres. Mammoth Lakes has 1 place on the National Register.
What makes Mammoth Lakes stand out
Where Mammoth Lakes beats most towns.
WalkabilityA
More walkable than 93% of U.S. towns
5.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here5,308
Residents who work3,054
Work
1.7 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 90% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
A shrinking town
Mammoth Lakes has shrunk 17% since 2010
8,234 counted in 2010 and 7,191 in 2020; an estimated 6,867 in 2025.
The decline has continued: down 4.6% since 2020, after 12.7% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Mammoth Lakes grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Mammoth Lakes is from typical.
Cost of livingDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 13.1 of 20; 5.2% of households have no carAOpen →Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listC−Open →HealthMammoth Hospital 2 miles awayA−Open →SafetyCOpen →Jobs & incomeBOpen →SchoolsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsA+Open →History2 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life7.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 72° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.3; 24% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Mammoth Lakes: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mammoth Lakes, and how to reach them.
PowerSouthern California Edison31.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMammoth Cwd water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpTown’s haulerMammoth Disposal picks up at the curb for every homeTown 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 hereMono County Clerk-ElectionsMono County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code9354693546 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 Mammoth Lakes.
Mammoth Lakes draws workers from Los Angeles and beyond, keeps more of its land conserved than most of California and has cooler summers than nearly all U.S. towns.
OutdoorsA+
Mammoth Lakes has set aside nearly a third of its land for conservation
Its 13,599 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in any other California town.
77 miles of trail in 7 parks and preserves. Mammoth Lakes’ trail density is 3.1 miles per square mile.
#80for trails in CA
84.4%
conserved · 13,599 of 16,112 acres
77 mi
of trails · 3.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. John Muir Wilderness | 0.1 mi | 71 |
| 2. Shady Rest Park | — | 15 |
| 3. Owens River Headwaters Wilderness | — | 4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB
On state tests, Mammoth Lakes’ schools beat 58% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the Mammoth Unified school district. Two of its 6 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Mammoth High, with 330 students.
58%of CA districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mammoth ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 505 | – |
| Mammoth HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 330 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Mammoth Lakes stands out in California and nationally, with the average trip to work shorter than most
5,308 jobs are based in Mammoth Lakes, 1.7 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in. The average commute takes 14.8 minutes, against 28.7 across California.
The average trip to work in Mammoth Lakes is 15 minutes. Jobs based in Mammoth Lakes grew to 5,308 in 2023, 922 more than in 2013. 6.1% of residents live below the poverty line in Mammoth Lakes.
52%work in town
| Mammoth Lakes | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 15 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $98,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Mammoth Lakes52%
San Francisco2%
Bridgeport2%
Fresno2%
San Jose2%
3 mi
median commute distance
5,308
jobs based in Mammoth Lakes
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 93% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthA−
For health, Mammoth Lakes earns an A−
20% of Mammoth Lakes adults binge drink. Mammoth Lakes beats the California average on 10 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 69% of Mammoth Lakes adults had a checkup this year.
79%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Mammoth Lakes | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 16% | 16% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 69% | 72% | 79% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 31% | 35% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 8.3% | 12% | 12% |
32 measures vs. California
10 better20 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Mammoth Lakes | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 8.3% | 11.7% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 12.7% | 17.9% |
| More binge drinkers | 20.3% | 15.3% |
Mammoth Hospital
2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
68th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Mammoth Lakes faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by earthquakes
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 80% of U.S. communities. Since 2023, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Mammoth Lakes.
80risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesAvalanchesInland flooding
2
paid flood claims since 2023
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SafetyC
Mammoth Lakes reports more crime per resident than 70% of U.S. towns
Within California, it does better than 54% of towns.
30%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade
| Mammoth Lakes | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.8 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 12.8 per 1,000 residents | 13.4 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Mammoth Lakes2.8
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Mammoth Lakes12.8
California18.2
U.S.15.5
30th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
54th
percentile among CA towns
20
violent crimes reported in 2025
91
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
A typical January night in Mammoth Lakes is colder than in most of California or the rest of the country
July afternoons average 72.2°, cooler than in 99% of U.S. towns; January nights average 14.9°.
No town among the 846 in California we compare has a lower January low than Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth Lakes has cold winters and cool summers.
72°summer high
| Mammoth Lakes | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 72°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 15°F | 41°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–39°
Spring22–48°
Summer40–69°
Fall28–55°
Sep 17
typical first frost
Jun 10
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
72°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade D
For cost of living, Mammoth Lakes earns a D
The typical Mammoth Lakes home is worth about $818,000, up 3.1% in a year, 7% above the California typical home.
$818KZillow home value
| Mammoth Lakes | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 56% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,645 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Mammoth Lakes$818K
California$762K
+3.1%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 31 attractions →Yosemite National Park and 25 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Mammoth Lakes. Close and well known come first.
Big draw16 mi National ParkYosemite National Park4.3M visitors a year
in town Ski areaMammoth Mountain153 runs · 2,962 ft vertical
Big draw31 mi MountainHalf Dome
27 mi LakeMono Lake
5 mi National MonumentDevils Postpile National Monument100K visitors a year
29 mi National ParkKings Canyon National Park780K visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Yosemite National Park: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mammoth Mountain: Hike395 (talk · contribs), CC BY 3.0 · Half Dome: Jon Sullivan, Public domain · Mono Lake: File:Mono lake sat.jpg: created by NASA Rotation and crop: Hike395, Public domain · Devils Postpile National Monument: Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Kings Canyon National Park: NileGuide.com (Josh Steinitz), CC BY 2.0
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Keep exploring
Everything we know about Mammoth Lakes
19pages on Mammoth Lakes
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 58% of CA districts · 6 schoolsSafetyC2.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than CA on 10 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD$818K typical home · up 3.1% in a yearWork & commuteB$98K median household income · 5,308 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 80% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Mammoth Lakes; the nearest are
Clovis Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Fresno65.3 mi$1,378 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-FresnoUniversity or college · Public · Fresno69.9 mi$7,350 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Mammoth Lakes residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
A job hub
Every workday, about 3,713 people come to Mammoth Lakes for work
Where Mammoth Lakes’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
5,308jobs based in Mammoth Lakes
52%of working residents work in town
3 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Mammoth Lakes
Town in California, United States
Mammoth Lakes is the only incorporated town in Mono County, California, United States. It is located immediately to the east of Mammoth Mountain, at an elevation of 7,880 feet (2,400 m). As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 7,191, representing a decrease of 12.7% from the 8,234 recorded in the 2010 Census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1984
- Area
- 25 sq mi
- Elevation
- 7,881 ft
- ZIP code
- 93546
Questions about Mammoth Lakes
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Mammoth Lakes, CA a good place to live?
Mammoth Lakes grades C+ overall, better than 36% of U.S. towns and #323 of 841 in California. It grades A− for health, C for safety and B for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Mammoth Lakes, CA safe?
Within California, it does better than 54% of towns.
Is Mammoth Lakes, 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.
What is Mammoth Lakes, CA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Carly Margulies and Jim Tracy.