CALIFORNIA--SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, 1972
San Joaquin’s story
113 years in pictures
Census counts: 163 in 1930, 3,701 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 1972 and 3 maps from 1925 on.
- 1913San Joaquin is settled
Photo: Fruitianslip · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
3,688
2025 Census estimate · −1.7% since 2020
Typical home
$295K
+2.8% in a year
Household income
$43K
median
Median age
25.3
years
Jobs based here
643
Balanced
TownGrade
D−
#803 of 841 in CA
Is San Joaquin a good place to live?
San Joaquin earns a D−, 803rd among California's 841 graded towns, mostly because of incomes and health. The median household income is $43K, and 41% of residents live below the poverty line. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 98% of the country. One bright spot: it is more walkable than 57% of U.S. towns. 41% of residents live below the poverty line in San Joaquin, above both the California town median (10%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 78 of California’s 1,058 towns score higher on cost of living. San Joaquin's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 100% of U.S. towns.
How San Joaquin grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far San Joaquin is from typical.
Jobs & incomeD−Open →HealthCommunity Regional Medical Center 24.4 miles awayD−Open →Hazard riskdrought tops the listC−Open →SchoolsC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.7 of 20; 4.2% of households have no car; 1.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →Cost of livingTypical home $295K, 4 years of the Fresno metro’s $74K median household incomeC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 2% conserved landB−Open →History2 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic lifeD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 25.3; 2% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to San Joaquin: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in San Joaquin, and how to reach them.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of San Joaquin water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpTown’s haulerThe town’s contract hauler 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 hereFresno County Clerk, Registrar of VotersFresno County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code9366093660 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 San Joaquin.
San Joaquin has hotter summers than nearly all U.S. towns, but it is a long drive from an emergency room and has poverty well above the California rate.
HealthD−
More of San Joaquin’s adults say their health is fair or poor than in the typical California or U.S. town
The nearest emergency room, Community Regional Medical Center, is 24.4 miles away in a straight line.
44% of San Joaquin adults say their health is fair or poor. San Joaquin beats the California average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 22. 21% of San Joaquin adults report frequent physical distress.
2%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
| San Joaquin | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 22% | 19% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 29% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 17% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. California
1 better9 too close to call22 worse
| What stands out | San Joaquin | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 3.5% | 6.4% |
| More uninsured adults | 31.1% | 10.6% |
Community Regional Medical Center
24.4 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
1st
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsC−
Public schools in San Joaquin fall behind 76% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the Golden Plains Unified school district. Its one school is below.
24%of CA districts it outscoresC−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Joaquin ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 518 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade C+
San Joaquin stands out in California and nationally: the median rent there is lower
The median property tax bill is $1,725, against $5,124 across California, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
The median rent in San Joaquin is $967 a month. The typical San Joaquin home is worth about $295,000, up 2.8% in a year, 61% below the California typical home. 33% of households own their home in San Joaquin.
$295KZillow home value
| San Joaquin | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 33% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $967 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
San Joaquin$295K
California$762K
+2.8%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
San Joaquin faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by drought
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 78% of U.S. communities. Since 1983, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in San Joaquin.
78risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtEarthquakes
2
paid flood claims since 1983
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In San Joaquin, expect four seasons and hot summers
July afternoons average 97.1°, hotter than in 98% of U.S. towns; January nights average 39.1°.
San Joaquin has mild winters and hot summers, with very little rain. San Joaquin’s July high is 97°F.
97°summer high
| San Joaquin | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 97°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 39°F | 41°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter39–58°
Spring49–76°
Summer63–95°
Fall51–79°
Nov 26
typical first frost
Feb 27
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
97°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
With 1.1 jobs for every working resident, San Joaquin draws in 616 commuters
Most working residents leave San Joaquin for work: only 5% work in town. Since 2013, San Joaquin has lost 82 jobs, to 643 in 2023. The top destinations are Fresno (17%), Kerman (4%) and Visalia (3%).
5%work in town
| San Joaquin | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 4.7% | 6.6% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In San Joaquin5%
Fresno17%
Kerman4%
Visalia3%
Madera2%
31 mi
median commute distance
643
jobs based in San Joaquin
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 57% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
OutdoorsB−
San Joaquin has set aside 1.9% of its land for conservation
0.6 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
1.9%conserved
| San Joaquin | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.5 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 1.9% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
1.9%
conserved · 14 of 742 acres
0.6 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. San Joaquin City Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about San Joaquin
19pages on San Joaquin
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of San Joaquin; the nearest are
Agape College of Business and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Fresno24.2 mi$25,672 tuitionMadera Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Madera24.5 mi$1,378 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-FresnoUniversity or college · Public · Fresno28.5 mi$7,350 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 San Joaquin residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About San Joaquin
City in California, United States
San Joaquin is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 3,701 at the 2020 census, down from 4,001 at the 2010 census. The nearest high school in the area is Tranquillity High School in Tranquillity. San Joaquin is located 11 miles (18 km) southwest of Kerman, at an elevation of 174 feet (53 m).
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1920
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 174 ft
- ZIP code
- 93660
- Area code
- 559
Questions about San Joaquin
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is San Joaquin, CA a good place to live?
San Joaquin grades D− overall, in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns and #803 of 841 in California. It grades D− for health and C− for schools. Jobs & income is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is San Joaquin, 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 C+.
What is San Joaquin, CA known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Emily Best and Richard A. Pittman.