The Town FilesEmpire, California
Community in Stanislaus County · population 4,202 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $335,200
- Household income
- $52,563
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 41.1
Empire is a community of 4,202 people in Stanislaus County, California. The median home is worth $335,200, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 75% of California towns, easier by car than 72% of California towns.
How Empire 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 Empire is worth $335,200, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 6.4 times the median household income of $52,563, which is more affordable than 50% of California towns. Median rent is $1,238 a month. 60.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Empire | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $335,200 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,238 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $52,563 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.4× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 60.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Empire
| People | Empire | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.7% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.3% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.0% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.8% | 93.3% |
Weather in Empire
July highs average 95.0°F and January lows 38.8°F. About 12.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 12 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Empire since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 27, 1953 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 1, 2025.
Severe weather in Stanislaus County since 1996
Stanislaus County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 22, 2020 | Fire | DR-4558: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County had 199,396 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,795 a year. Unemployment was 6.4% in 2023; in Empire itself the ACS puts it at 13%.
Public schools in Empire
2 public schools with 535 students, about 19.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empire Elementary | K-6 | 374 | 23.4 |
| Teel School in Empire | 5-12 | 161 | 14.6 |
Towns near Empire
- Hughson, CA3.6 mi · 7,481 people · home $511,200
- Bystrom, CA4.4 mi · 3,957 people · home $319,400
- Ceres, CA4.5 mi · 49,302 people · home $424,800
- Modesto, CA5.3 mi · 218,464 people · home $442,700
- Keyes, CA5.9 mi · 5,672 people · home $344,100
- Bret Harte, CA6.0 mi · 5,135 people · home $334,700
- Riverbank, CA6.1 mi · 24,865 people · home $463,200
- West Modesto, CA7.1 mi · 5,965 people · home $304,700
Empire questions
Is Empire, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Empire scores better for retirees than 35% of California towns and quieter than 56%. 16.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.1).
How much does a house cost in Empire?
The median owner-occupied home in Empire is valued at $335,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,563, so homes cost about 6.4 times income. Median rent is $1,238 a month.
What is the weather like in Empire?
July highs average 95.0°F and January lows 38.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 12.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Empire get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Empire since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 27, 1953. The typical California town has had 2.
- 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)