The Town FilesCalifornia, Maryland
Community in St. Mary's County · population 12,947 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $346,800
- Household income
- $119,855
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 26
- Median age
- 35.0
California is a community of 12,947 people in St. Mary's County, Maryland. The median home is worth $346,800, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 87% of Maryland towns, better for young professionals than 87% of Maryland towns, more seaside character than 80% of Maryland towns.
How California ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in California is worth $346,800, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $119,855, which is more affordable than 91% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,927 a month. 62.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | California | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $346,800 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,927 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $119,855 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 62.9% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in California
| People | California | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.7% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.8% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 18.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.4% | — |
| Work from home | 18.2% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 94.3% |
Weather in California
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 29.5°F. About 45.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 12.5 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 68 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of California since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 13, 1983 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 1, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 13, 2013.
Severe weather in St. Mary's County since 1996
St. Mary's County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for hurricane, snowstorm, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| February 4, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4583: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in St. Mary's County
St. Mary's County had 49,113 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $85,381 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in California itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in California
2 public schools with 1,066 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evergreen Elementary School | K-5 | 744 | 17.7 |
| Greenview Knolls Elementary | PK-5 | 322 | 13.4 |
Towns near California
- Wildewood, MD3.0 mi · 7,821 people · home $383,400
- Solomons, MD3.3 mi · 2,650 people · home $436,800
- Drum Point, MD3.8 mi · 2,553 people · home $415,800
- Lexington Park, MD4.2 mi · 13,317 people · home $309,700
- Chesapeake Ranch Estates, MD5.8 mi · 10,308 people · home $286,700
- Leonardtown, MD8.0 mi · 4,563 people · home $575,300
- Golden Beach, MD17.4 mi · 3,651 people · home $382,700
- Prince Frederick, MD17.8 mi · 3,226 people · home $404,400
California questions
Is California, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, California scores better for retirees than 33% of Maryland towns and quieter than 24%. 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.0).
How much does a house cost in California?
The median owner-occupied home in California is valued at $346,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $119,855, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,927 a month.
What is the weather like in California?
July highs average 87.3°F and January lows 29.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.3 inches of precipitation a year and 12.5 inches of snow.
Does California get tornadoes?
26 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of California since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 13, 1983. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- 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)