The Town FilesNeedles, California
City in San Bernardino County · population 4,931 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,200
- Household income
- $38,243
- Jan low / Jul high
- 46° / 111°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 49.5
Needles is a city of 4,931 people in San Bernardino County, California. The median home is worth $157,200, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of California towns, quieter than 86% of California towns, easier by car than 85% of California towns.
How Needles 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 Needles is worth $157,200, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $38,243, which is more affordable than 90% of California towns. Median rent is $745 a month. 52.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Needles | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,200 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $745 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $38,243 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 52.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.3% | — |
Who lives in Needles
| People | Needles | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.2% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.7% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.9% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 93.3% |
Weather in Needles
July highs average 110.5°F and January lows 46.0°F. About 4.3 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 2 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Needles since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an F1, struck on April 21, 2001 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 21, 2001.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 25, 2008.
Severe weather in San Bernardino County since 1996
San Bernardino County has been included in 61 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2024 | Fire | FM-5537: Bridge Fire |
| September 7, 2024 | Fire | FM-5535: Line Fire |
| 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 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County had 845,908 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,368 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Needles itself the ACS puts it at 12.9%.
Public schools in Needles
5 public schools with 827 students, about 19.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vista Colorado Elementary | K-5 | 327 | 21.8 |
| Needles High | 9-12 | 267 | 19.1 |
| Needles Middle | 6-8 | 206 | 18.7 |
| Needles Community Day | 6-12 | 15 | 7.5 |
| Educational Training Center | 9-12 | 12 | — |
Towns near Needles
- Mohave Valley, AZ6.9 mi · 2,693 people · home $256,900
- Fort Mohave, AZ13.2 mi · 16,190 people · home $294,300
- Bullhead City, AZ22.1 mi · 41,348 people · home $211,500
- Laughlin, NV22.6 mi · 8,658 people · home $283,700
- Desert Hills, AZ23.2 mi · 2,764 people · home $281,600
- Lake Havasu City, AZ28.1 mi · 57,144 people · home $455,400
Needles questions
Is Needles, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Needles scores better for retirees than 55% of California towns and quieter than 86%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.5).
How much does a house cost in Needles?
The median owner-occupied home in Needles is valued at $157,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,243, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $745 a month.
What is the weather like in Needles?
July highs average 110.5°F and January lows 46.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 4.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Needles get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Needles since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on April 21, 2001. 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)