Valley Center, 2008
Valley Center’s story
139 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,242 in 1980, 10,087 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2008 and 6 maps from 1893 on.
- 1887Valley Center is settled
Valley CenterCA
The town was settled in 1887 and has 11,119 residents today.
Photo: Vcdrummer · CC BY 3.0
Population
11,119
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$922K
+0.5% in a year
Household income
$132K
median
Median age
42.1
years
Jobs based here
1,801
A commuter town
TownGrade
C−
#526 of 841 in CA
Is Valley Center a good place to live?
The data are hard on it. Hazard risk is its weak spot (D−): FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 100% of U.S. communities, with wildfire at the top. At about $922K, a typical home costs 8.7 years of the San Diego metro’s $106K median household income. Its strongest subject is incomes: the median household earns $132K. All told, that adds up to a C− overall and a rank of 526th of 841 in California. Set against the rest, it does better than 17% of U.S. towns. Valley Center’s typical journey to work is 38 minutes, where California’s towns sit at 28 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than just over three quarters of U.S. towns.
Figures: incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · FEMA National Risk Index · home values, Zillow.
What makes Valley Center stand out
Where Valley Center beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A commuter town
93% of working residents leave Valley Center for work
Where Valley Center’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,801jobs based in Valley Center
7%of working residents work in town
19 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Valley Center grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Valley Center is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 100% of U.S. communities; wildfire tops the listD−Open →Cost of livingIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.6 of 20; 0.6% of households have no car; 0.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →Jobs & incomeBased on what households earn, poverty and workA−Open →HealthPalomar Health Downtown Campus 8.2 miles awayB+Open →SchoolsSchools trail most of those comparedC+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.
ClimateMild winters, 92° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market$922K typical home, up 0.5% in a year; 59 days on market–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 111 attractions →Snapdragon Stadium and 65 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Valley Center. Close and well known come first.
Big draw32 mi Stadium & arenaSnapdragon Stadium
37 mi Stadium & arenaPetco Park
35 mi Zoo & aquariumSan Diego Zoo4.0M visitors a year
9 mi Zoo & aquariumSan Diego Zoo Safari Park
19 mi Theme parkLegoland California
35 mi Theme parkSeaWorld San Diego4.0M visitors a yearSources: 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 · Petco Park: Mds08011, CC BY 4.0 · San Diego Zoo: en:User:Cburnett, 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 · Legoland California: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jdigger/, CC BY 2.0 · SeaWorld San Diego: ZooFari, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting set up
Moving to Valley Center: who provides what
Valley Center is unincorporated, so San Diego County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerSDG&E45.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterValley Center Mwd water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers82% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesSan Diego CountySan Diego County provides services here
SchoolsEscondido Union High School DistrictValley Center-Pauma Unified School District2 districts serve Valley Center; 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 code9208292082 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 Valley Center.
Valley Center has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns and owes part of its health edge to its incomes, but it has commutes longer than most of California.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
The FEMA risk score in Valley Center is higher than in most of California or the rest of the country
One flood insurance claim has been paid in Valley Center since 2020. Of the losses FEMA expects here, 87% come from wildfires and 9% from inland flooding. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Valley Center after 5 declared disasters, most recently in 2024.
100risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
WildfireInland flooding
1
paid flood claims since 2020
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsC+
Public schools in Valley Center fall behind 60% of California districts
The largest public high school is Valley Center High, with 1,075 students. Of its 5 schools, two are listed below, each with the reason. 5 public schools serve Valley Center, with 2,181 students in all.
40%of CA districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Center PrimaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–2 | Grades K–2 | 496 | – |
| Valley Center HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,075 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
With 0.4 jobs for every working resident, most of Valley Center’s workers commute out
The average commute for its 4,292 working residents takes 37.6 minutes, against 28.7 across California.
Most working residents leave Valley Center for work: only 7% work in town. Employers in Valley Center added 209 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 1,801. For residents locally, the share who live below the poverty line is 6.7%. The top destinations are San Diego (21%), Escondido (12%) and San Marcos (6%).
7%work in town
| Valley Center | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 38 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $132,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 18% | 14% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.7% | 10% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Valley Center7%
San Diego21%
Escondido12%
San Marcos6%
Carlsbad4%
19 mi
median commute distance
1,801
jobs based in Valley Center
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 24% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
Valley Center ranks healthier than 70% of the country’s towns
Against the 4,310 U.S. towns with household incomes like Valley Center’s, it is less healthy than 75%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
Just over a tenth of Valley Center adults smoke cigarettes. This California town beats the California average on 9 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6. Among adults locally, 75% had a checkup this year and 21% get no exercise outside work.
70%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Valley Center | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 29% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 75% | 72% | 79% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 24% | 25% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 35% | 36% |
32 measures vs. California
9 better17 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Valley Center | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 14.5% | 17.9% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 8.7% | 10.6% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9% | 6.4% |
Palomar Health Downtown Campus
8.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
59th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade D−
A larger share of households in Valley Center live in a home they own than in the typical California or U.S. town
The typical Valley Center home is worth about $922,000, about the same as a year ago, 21% above the California typical home. The rent at the middle of the market for Valley Center comes to $1,750 a month. Also worth knowing: a home in Valley Center typically sold within 59 days of listing.
$922KZillow home value
| Valley Center | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 93% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,750 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Valley Center$922K
California$762K
Market temperature
59
days on market
100.9%
sale-to-list price
+0.5%
value change, 1 year
12
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
The climate in Valley Center brings mild winters and hot summers
January nights average 42.1°, milder than in 95% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 89.7°.
For Valley Center, the typical July afternoon high is 90°F. Snow is a rarity.
92°summer high
| Valley Center | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 42°F | 40°F | 22°F |
| July high | 90°F | 89°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter42–66°
Spring48–73°
Summer60–88°
Fall54–81°
Dec 1
typical first frost
Feb 19
typical last frost
+2.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Valley Center skews older than California
People 65 and older are 22% of residents (16% statewide). The share of adults 25 and older in Valley Center who hold a bachelor’s degree or more: 38%. For Valley Center, the median age is 42.1 years.
42.1median age · CA 37.9
| Valley Center | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 22% | 16% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 38% | 29% | 29% |
| Median age | 42.1 years | 39 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 21% | 22% | 22% |
Valley CenterCaliforniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
14%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma13%
High school19%
Some college22%
Associate’s7%
Bachelor’s27%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.8 points. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Valley Center | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.6% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.8% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.3% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.2% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.5% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.3% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 14.2% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 8.2% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 12.7% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 19.3% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.3% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 7.4% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 26.7% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.7% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
OutdoorsB−
Protected land: 8.4% of Valley Center
The density of trails in Valley Center is 0.4 miles per square mile. 11 miles of trail in 4 parks and preserves. Parks and preserves locally: 4, covering 26 acres.
#583for trails in CA
| Valley Center | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 8.4% | 4.2% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
8.4%
conserved · 1,472 of 17,500 acres
11 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Valley Center Parks | — | 12 |
| 2. Robert Adams Community Park | — | 11 |
| 3. The Back Porch | 0.2 mi | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Valley Center
18pages on Valley Center
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of Valley Center
Westminster Theological Seminary in CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Escondido7.9 miCalifornia State University-San MarcosUniversity or college · Public · San Marcos10.9 mi$8,082 in-state tuitionPalomar CollegeCommunity college · Public · San Marcos11.3 mi$1,354 in-state tuition
About 8 of every 100 Valley Center residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California.
Famous people from Valley Center
3 notable people were born in Valley Center.
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About Valley Center
Census-designated place in California, United States
Valley Center is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Diego County, California, United States. The population was 10,087 at the 2020 census, up from 9,277 at the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 27 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,312 ft
- ZIP code
- 92082
- Area code
- 760
Questions about Valley Center
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Valley Center, CA a good place to live?
Valley Center grades C− overall, better than 17% of U.S. towns and #526 of 841 in California. It grades B+ for health and C+ for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Valley Center, 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 Valley Center, CA known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Trevor Reilly and Pete Calac.