Statue of a pizzaiolo, 2008
Wrightwood’s story
98 years in pictures
Census counts: 2,511 in 1980, 4,720 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 2008 and 6 maps from 1903 on.
- 1928Wrightwood is settled
WrightwoodCA
A town of 5,067, settled in 1928.
Photo: Jamesb01 (image transferred to Commons by JaumeBG. · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
5,067
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$424K
−1.3% in a year
Household income
$74K
median
Median age
44.2
years
Jobs based here
366
A commuter town
TownGrade
C−
#459 of 841 in CA
Is Wrightwood a good place to live?
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 100% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Overall it grades C−, 459th of 841 graded towns in California. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 81% of the country. Its weakest subject is cost of living: homes are expensive, about $424K for a typical one and 4.7 times the Riverside metro’s $90K median household income. 36% of the land in Wrightwood is conserved, where California’s towns sit at 4.2% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. Angeles National Forest, at 3,468 acres with 14.7 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
What makes Wrightwood stand out
Where Wrightwood beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Get outside
19 miles of trails in Wrightwood
36.2% of the town is conserved land, across 5 parks and preserves.
2
San Gabriel Mountains National Monument4.3 mi of trails · 103 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Wrightwood grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Wrightwood is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 100% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listD−Open →Cost of livingDOpen →HealthSan Antonio Regional Hospital 16.8 miles awayA−Open →SchoolsC+Open →Jobs & income$74K median household income; 366 jobs based hereB−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.6 of 20; 2.3% of households have no car; 2.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−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, 77° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 44.2; 47% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 270 attractions →Dodger Stadium and 78 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Wrightwood. Close and well known come first.
Big draw40 mi Stadium & arenaDodger Stadium
4 mi MountainMount San Antonio
Big draw39 mi MuseumOldest McDonald's restaurant
40 mi Stadium & arenaHonda Center
31 mi MuseumThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
33 mi MuseumRichard Nixon Presidential Library and MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Dodger Stadium: Frederick Dennstedt from los angeles, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Mount San Antonio: The original uploader was Tillman at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.0 · Oldest McDonald's restaurant: Northwalker, CC0 · Honda Center: Arnold C (Buchanan-Hermit), Attribution · The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens: By Aaron Logan, CC BY 1.0 · Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum: The original uploader was Sorcha at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5
Getting set up
Moving to Wrightwood: who provides what
Wrightwood is unincorporated, so San Bernardino County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerSouthern California Edison31.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet6 providers100% 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 code9239792397 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 Wrightwood.
Wrightwood is a second-home town, keeps more of its land conserved than most of California and has cooler summers than nearly all U.S. towns.
OutdoorsB
Wrightwood has set aside nearly a third of its land for conservation
Its 1,372 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 95% of California towns.
19 miles of trail in 5 parks and preserves. At 3.3 miles per square mile, Wrightwood’s trail density is against 1.0 in California’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns.
#62for trails in CA
36.2%
conserved · 1,372 of 3,794 acres
19 mi
of trails · 3.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Angeles National Forest | 14.7 mi | 3,468 |
| 2. San Gabriel Mountains National Monument | 4.3 mi | 103 |
| 3. San Bernardino National Forest | 0.4 mi | 326 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC+
On state tests, Wrightwood’s schools trail 58% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the Snowline Joint Unified school district. Its one school is below.
42%of CA districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrightwood ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 336 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
Wrightwood stands out in California and nationally, with the FEMA risk score higher than most
Wrightwood’s FEMA risk score is 100 of 100. Since 2001, 16 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Wrightwood.
100risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesWildfire
16
paid flood claims since 2001
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade D
Wrightwood’s grade for cost of living is a D
78.4% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 55.3% across California.
The median rent in Wrightwood is $1,833 a month. The typical Wrightwood home is worth about $424,000, down 1.3% in a year, 44% below the California typical home. 76% of households own their home in Wrightwood.
$424KZillow home value
| Wrightwood | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,833 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 76% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Wrightwood$424K
California$762K
−1.3%
value change, 1 year
4
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
HealthA−
Wrightwood’s grade for health is an A−
18% of Wrightwood adults get no exercise outside work. Wrightwood beats the California average on 12 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 74% of Wrightwood adults had a checkup this year.
81%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Wrightwood | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 24% | 25% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 74% | 72% | 79% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 35% | 36% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 16% | 14% |
32 measures vs. California
12 better17 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Wrightwood | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 5.7% | 10.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 10.3% | 17.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 9.6% | 6.4% |
San Antonio Regional Hospital
16.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
71st
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Wrightwood has 0.3 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
The average commute for its 1,180 working residents takes 36.6 minutes, against 28.7 across California.
Most working residents leave Wrightwood for work: only 8% work in town. The top destinations are Los Angeles (6%), San Bernardino (6%) and Phelan (4%). Half commute less than 30 miles.
8%work in town
| Wrightwood | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 37 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $74,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Wrightwood8%
Los Angeles6%
San Bernardino6%
Phelan4%
Rancho Cucamonga3%
30 mi
median commute distance
366
jobs based in Wrightwood
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 52% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Wrightwood, expect mild winters and pleasant summers
July afternoons average 77.2°, cooler than in 97% of U.S. towns; January nights average 29.1°.
Wrightwood has mild winters and pleasant summers. Snow is almost unheard of.
77°summer high
| Wrightwood | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 77°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 29°F | 41°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter29–46°
Spring34–56°
Summer53–75°
Fall41–62°
+2.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
77°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Wrightwood
18pages on Wrightwood
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Wrightwood
About 4 of every 100 Wrightwood residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
A commuter town
92% of working residents leave Wrightwood for work
Where Wrightwood’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
366jobs based in Wrightwood
8%of working residents work in town
30 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Wrightwood
Unincorporated community in California, United States
Wrightwood is a census-designated place in San Bernardino County, California. It sits at an elevation of 6,208 feet (1,892 m). The population was 4,720 at the 2020 census, up from 4,525 at the 2010 census. Wrightwood is located 77 miles (124 km) northeast of Los Angeles. It is on the Pacific Crest Trail.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 5.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 5,935 ft
- ZIP code
- 92397
- Area code
- 760
Questions about Wrightwood
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Wrightwood, CA a good place to live?
Wrightwood grades C− overall, better than 24% of U.S. towns and #459 of 841 in California. It grades A− for health and C+ for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Wrightwood, 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.