The Town FilesBorrego Springs, California
Community in San Diego County · population 3,073 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $402,700
- Household income
- $86,078
- Jan low / Jul high
- 46° / 107°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 60.9
Borrego Springs is a community of 3,073 people in San Diego County, California. The median home is worth $402,700, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks quieter than 98% of California towns, better for first-time buyers than 98% of California towns, better for retirees than 96% of California towns.
- #1 in The 10 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California With Mild Winters
- #2 in The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California
- #2 in The 24 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in California
- #4 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in California
- #11 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
- #17 in The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in California
How Borrego Springs 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 Borrego Springs is worth $402,700, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $86,078, which is more affordable than 82% of California towns. Median rent is $1,004 a month. 71.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Borrego Springs | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $402,700 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,004 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $86,078 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 71.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 36.0% | — |
Who lives in Borrego Springs
| People | Borrego Springs | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.6% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 5.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 16.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 30.8% | — |
| Work from home | 33.3% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 93.3% |
Weather in Borrego Springs
July highs average 107.4°F and January lows 45.5°F. About 5.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 177 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Borrego Springs since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an F0, struck on May 20, 1997 about 5.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 20, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on October 16, 2005.
Severe weather in San Diego County since 1996
San Diego County has been included in 51 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2024 | Flood | DR-4758: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| 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 |
| October 16, 2020 | Fire | DR-4569: Wildfires |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4482: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in San Diego County
San Diego County had 1,536,541 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $82,854 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Borrego Springs itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Borrego Springs
3 public schools with 344 students, about 19.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borrego Springs Elementary | K-5 | 150 | 30.0 |
| Borrego Springs High | 9-12 | 116 | 14.5 |
| Borrego Springs Middle | 6-8 | 78 | 15.6 |
Towns near Borrego Springs
- Salton City, CA23.2 mi · 5,155 people · home $200,600
- Oasis, CA23.9 mi · 4,468 people · home $34,800
- Vista Santa Rosa, CA27.6 mi · 2,607 people · home $427,700
- La Quinta, CA28.1 mi · 37,558 people · home $661,600
- Mecca, CA28.7 mi · 8,219 people · home $224,300
- Anza, CA29.5 mi · 3,075 people · home $346,600
- San Diego Country Estates, CA29.6 mi · 10,395 people · home $810,300
- Thermal, CA29.6 mi · 2,676 people · home $187,000
Borrego Springs questions
Is Borrego Springs, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Borrego Springs scores better for retirees than 96% of California towns and quieter than 98%. 40.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.9).
How much does a house cost in Borrego Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Borrego Springs is valued at $402,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,078, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,004 a month.
What is the weather like in Borrego Springs?
July highs average 107.4°F and January lows 45.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 5.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Borrego Springs get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Borrego Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on May 20, 1997. 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)