Skip to main content

CA area data

Big bear lake, CA

Big bear lake, CA.

Population: 5,215 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Big bear lake, CA is $536,902 — down 3.8% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $570,000 after a median 64 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,944/month. 2 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Very High, with earthquake, inlandflooding, landslide the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 13.3% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$536,902

Median home value

-3.8%

1-year change

64

Median days on market

Very High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$536,902
1-year appreciation
-3.8%
3-year appreciation
-10.5%
5-year appreciation
-2.5%
10-year appreciation
+68.8%
All-time peak (2022-06)
$675,576
House Price Index (state)
417.4 (-0.8% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$570,000
Median list price
$588,000
Median price per sqft
$396
1-year sale-price change
-3.4%
Median days on market
64 days
Homes sold (recent period)
89
For-sale inventory
454
Sale-to-list ratio
97.0%
Active listings
404
1-year forecast
-0.2%
Days to pending
91 days
New listings (monthly)
69

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$1,944/mo
1-year rent change
+10.1%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,495/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,869/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$2,330/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$3,029/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$3,495/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (High)
113.3 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
32.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$22.00/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
2
Elementary schools
1
Middle schools
1
High schools
0
Schools include
Big Bear Middle, North Shore Elementary

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Very High
Top hazards (county)
earthquake, inlandFlooding, landslide, wildfire, heatWave
Notable hazard ratings (county)
avalanche: Relatively Low · coldWave: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively Low · earthquake: Very High · hail: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively High
FEMA flood zone
X
Flood risk level
Minimal
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 93% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
19.7%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Norton Air Force Base (21.3 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
49.0°F
Average high
63.0°F
Average low
35.0°F
Annual precipitation
18.6 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
7b (extreme annual low 5 to 10°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Moderate
Median AQI (annual)
71
Days with Good air quality
50
Days with Moderate air quality
197
Days with Unhealthy air quality
44
Highest AQI recorded (year)
214

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
17.5 / 20
Transit service frequency
275
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
1,970
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
2,416

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
1
Nearest national park
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (31 mi)
Airports within 30 mi
24
Nearest airport
Big Bear City Airport (RBF) (3 mi)
Nearest major airport
San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) (21 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
1
Hospitals include
BEAR VALLEY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Solar radiation rating
Excellent (5.7 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-2,936 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,976
Housing built before 1970
34.9%
Housing built 2000 or later
13.7%
Median annual property tax
$4,067
Households with broadband internet
84.9%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
708,641
Average weekly wage
$1,077
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Administrative Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
3,574

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

Big bear lakeState medianUS median
Median home value$536,902$702,573$289,727
Median sale price$570,000$696,000$325,000
Median days on market64 days39 days51 days
Typical rent$1,944/mo$2,767/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$4,067$4,533$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in Big bear lake, CA?
$536,902.
What is the median sale price in Big bear lake, CA?
$570,000.
How long do homes take to sell in Big bear lake, CA?
Median days on market: 64 days.
What is typical rent in Big bear lake, CA?
Typical rent: $1,944/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Big bear lake, CA?
Overall risk: Very High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: earthquake, inlandFlooding, landslide, wildfire, heatWave.
Is Big bear lake, CA in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
What is the wildfire risk in Big bear lake, CA?
Risk to homes is higher than 93% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Big bear lake, CA?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Big bear lake, CA?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve Big bear lake, CA?
2 schools (1 elementary, 1 middle) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is Big bear lake, CA walkable?
Walkability index: 17.5/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Big bear lake, CA?
Moderate. Median AQI: 71. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Big bear lake, CA?
Regional Price Parity: 113.3 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Big bear lake

Selling a home in Big bear lake, CA?

REAIGENT7 gives every listing its own AI assistant grounded in this same public data — it answers buyer questions about the home and the area, around the clock, and sends every lead to the listing agent. Agents: it installs on your listing page, your website, or WordPress.

Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents