The Town FilesNipomo, California
Community in San Luis Obispo County · population 18,176 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $723,700
- Household income
- $110,022
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 73°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 37.8
Nipomo is a community of 18,176 people in San Luis Obispo County, California. The median home is worth $723,700, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks easier by car than 89% of California towns, more seaside character than 87% of California towns.
How Nipomo 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 Nipomo is worth $723,700, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 6.6 times the median household income of $110,022, which is more affordable than 47% of California towns. Median rent is $2,106 a month. 65.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nipomo | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $723,700 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $2,106 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $110,022 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.6× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 65.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.6% | — |
Who lives in Nipomo
| People | Nipomo | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.7% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 18.3% | — |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 93.3% |
Weather in Nipomo
July highs average 73.3°F and January lows 41.0°F. About 13.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 9 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nipomo since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on February 7, 2024 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 7, 2024.
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 Nipomo itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Nipomo
5 public schools with 2,706 students, about 19.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nipomo High | 9-12 | 867 | 18.8 |
| Dana Elementary | K-6 | 601 | 19.4 |
| Lange (Dorothea) Elementary | K-6 | 566 | 21.8 |
| Nipomo Elementary | K-6 | 386 | 19.3 |
| Central Coast New Tech High | 9-12 | 286 | 16.8 |
Towns near Nipomo
- Guadalupe, CA6.2 mi · 8,057 people · home $495,600
- Santa Maria, CA7.4 mi · 109,707 people · home $531,700
- Oceano, CA7.9 mi · 7,183 people · home $556,100
- Arroyo Grande, CA8.1 mi · 18,441 people · home $814,200
- Grover Beach, CA9.3 mi · 12,701 people · home $727,500
- Orcutt, CA12.0 mi · 32,034 people · home $624,500
- Pismo Beach, CA13.1 mi · 8,072 people · home $1,021,300
- San Luis Obispo, CA18.9 mi · 47,063 people · home $935,100
Nipomo questions
Is Nipomo, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nipomo scores better for retirees than 47% of California towns and quieter than 47%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Nipomo?
The median owner-occupied home in Nipomo is valued at $723,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $110,022, so homes cost about 6.6 times income. Median rent is $2,106 a month.
What is the weather like in Nipomo?
July highs average 73.3°F and January lows 41.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Nipomo get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nipomo since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on February 7, 2024. 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)