The Town FilesSalton City, California
Community in Imperial County · population 5,155 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $200,600
- Household income
- $47,827
- Jan low / Jul high
- 49° / 108°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 35.8
Salton City is a community of 5,155 people in Imperial County, California. The median home is worth $200,600, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 89% of California towns, easier by car than 89% of California towns, quieter than 88% of California towns.
How Salton City 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 Salton City is worth $200,600, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $47,827, which is more affordable than 89% of California towns. Median rent is $1,372 a month. 87.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salton City | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $200,600 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,372 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $47,827 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 87.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 2002 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.0% | — |
Who lives in Salton City
| People | Salton City | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.4% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.4% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 2.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 28.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 32.7 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 93.3% |
Weather in Salton City
July highs average 108.1°F and January lows 48.7°F. About 4.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 182 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 Salton City since 1950.
Severe weather in Imperial County since 1996
Imperial County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| November 21, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4750: Tropical Storm Hilary |
| 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 |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4482: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3428: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Imperial County
Imperial County had 67,166 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,639 a year. Unemployment was 17.3% in 2023; in Salton City itself the ACS puts it at 12.8%.
Public schools in Salton City
2 public schools with 1,189 students, about 18.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea View Elementary | K-6 | 676 | 21.1 |
| West Shores High | 7-12 | 513 | 15.5 |
Towns near Salton City
- North Shore, CA15.1 mi · 3,585 people · home $203,900
- Oasis, CA18.4 mi · 4,468 people · home $34,800
- Mecca, CA20.1 mi · 8,219 people · home $224,300
- Borrego Springs, CA23.2 mi · 3,073 people · home $402,700
- Thermal, CA24.6 mi · 2,676 people · home $187,000
- Vista Santa Rosa, CA26.4 mi · 2,607 people · home $427,700
- Calipatria, CA28.9 mi · 6,515 people · home $197,200
- Coachella, CA29.0 mi · 41,941 people · home $367,600
Salton City questions
Is Salton City, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salton City scores better for retirees than 40% of California towns and quieter than 88%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Salton City?
The median owner-occupied home in Salton City is valued at $200,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,827, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,372 a month.
What is the weather like in Salton City?
July highs average 108.1°F and January lows 48.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 4.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Salton City get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Salton City 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)