The Town FilesCambria, California
Community in San Luis Obispo County · population 5,678 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $930,200
- Household income
- $99,147
- Jan low / Jul high
- 47° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 61.9
Cambria is a community of 5,678 people in San Luis Obispo County, California. The median home is worth $930,200, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of California towns, more seaside character than 97% of California towns, better for retirees than 95% of California towns.
- #10 in The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in California
- #15 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
- #16 in The 25 Best Seaside Small Towns in California
- #21 in 25 Small Towns in California With the Mildest Winters
- #25 in The 50 Best Small Towns to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes
- #28 in The 50 Best Places to Retire in America With the Fewest Tornadoes
How Cambria ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cambria is worth $930,200, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 9.4 times the median household income of $99,147, which is more affordable than 12% of California towns. Median rent is $1,924 a month. 78.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cambria | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $930,200 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,924 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $99,147 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 9.4× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 78.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.4% | — |
Who lives in Cambria
| People | Cambria | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 45.0% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.8% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 12.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.0% | — |
| Work from home | 22.8% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 21.4 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 93.3% |
Weather in Cambria
July highs average 75.0°F and January lows 46.5°F. About 29.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Cambria since 1950.
Severe weather in San Luis Obispo County since 1996
San Luis Obispo County has been included in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 13, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4769: Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in San Luis Obispo County
San Luis Obispo County had 121,958 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,334 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Cambria itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Cambria
4 public schools with 489 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria Grammar | K-5 | 201 | 15.5 |
| Coast Union High | 9-12 | 154 | 10.3 |
| Santa Lucia Middle | 6-8 | 123 | 13.7 |
| Leffingwell High (Continuation) | 9-12 | 11 | — |
Towns near Cambria
- Cayucos, CA13.4 mi · 2,505 people · home $1,011,900
- Lake Nacimiento, CA17.3 mi · 2,956 people · home $504,200
- Morro Bay, CA17.6 mi · 10,757 people · home $918,200
- Templeton, CA20.6 mi · 8,386 people · home $810,400
- Los Osos, CA22.4 mi · 14,465 people · home $805,800
- Atascadero, CA22.7 mi · 29,773 people · home $716,500
- El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA24.9 mi · 31,490 people · home $687,200
- San Miguel, CA26.0 mi · 3,172 people · home $539,700
Cambria questions
Is Cambria, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cambria scores better for retirees than 95% of California towns and quieter than 87%. 45.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.9).
How much does a house cost in Cambria?
The median owner-occupied home in Cambria is valued at $930,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,147, so homes cost about 9.4 times income. Median rent is $1,924 a month.
What is the weather like in Cambria?
July highs average 75.0°F and January lows 46.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Cambria get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Cambria in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)