The Town FilesPhoenix Lake, California
Community in Tuolumne County · population 4,264 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $488,500
- Household income
- $103,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 57.9
Phoenix Lake is a community of 4,264 people in Tuolumne County, California. The median home is worth $488,500, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks quieter than 85% of California towns, better for families than 81% of California towns, easier by car than 74% of California towns.
How Phoenix Lake 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 Phoenix Lake is worth $488,500, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $103,125, which is more affordable than 82% of California towns. Median rent is $1,313 a month. 91.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Phoenix Lake | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $488,500 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,313 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $103,125 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 91.7% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.5% | — |
Who lives in Phoenix Lake
| People | Phoenix Lake | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.7% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.8% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 12.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.4% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.3% | 93.3% |
Weather in Phoenix Lake
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 32.8°F. About 32.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 75 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 66 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Phoenix Lake since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on March 11, 2023.
Severe weather in Tuolumne County since 1996
Tuolumne County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 26, 2026 | Fire | FM-5652: Dove 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 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 22, 2020 | Fire | DR-4558: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Tuolumne County
Tuolumne County had 18,221 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,725 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Phoenix Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Towns near Phoenix Lake
- Mono Vista, CA2.1 mi · 3,236 people · home $427,800
- Sonora, CA4.5 mi · 5,003 people · home $422,300
- Columbia, CA5.8 mi · 2,577 people · home $376,200
- Jamestown, CA6.5 mi · 3,478 people · home $374,600
- Pine Mountain Lake, CA12.6 mi · 2,636 people · home $426,500
- Angels, CA13.8 mi · 3,667 people · home $484,800
- Arnold, CA16.6 mi · 3,288 people · home $485,700
- Copperopolis, CA17.9 mi · 3,400 people · home $487,200
Phoenix Lake questions
Is Phoenix Lake, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Phoenix Lake scores better for retirees than 70% of California towns and quieter than 85%. 36.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.9).
How much does a house cost in Phoenix Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Phoenix Lake is valued at $488,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $103,125, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,313 a month.
What is the weather like in Phoenix Lake?
July highs average 92.8°F and January lows 32.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Phoenix Lake get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Phoenix Lake 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)