The Town FilesTerra Bella, California
Community in Tulare County · population 2,910 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $236,500
- Household income
- $62,530
- Jan low / Jul high
- 40° / 98°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 29.3
Terra Bella is a community of 2,910 people in Tulare County, California. The median home is worth $236,500, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks easier by car than 93% of California towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of California towns.
How Terra Bella 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 Terra Bella is worth $236,500, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $62,530, which is more affordable than 93% of California towns. Median rent is $1,048 a month. 44.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Terra Bella | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $236,500 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,048 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $62,530 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 44.7% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Terra Bella
| People | Terra Bella | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.2% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 31.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 3.7% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.0% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 1.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 35.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 93.3% |
Weather in Terra Bella
July highs average 98.4°F and January lows 39.7°F. About 11.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.4 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 122 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 15 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Terra Bella since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on January 31, 2016.
Severe weather in Tulare County since 1996
Tulare County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| September 13, 2020 | Fire | FM-5373: Sqf Fire Complex |
Jobs and pay in Tulare County
Tulare County had 177,657 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,038 a year. Unemployment was 10% in 2023; in Terra Bella itself the ACS puts it at 32.4%.
Public schools in Terra Bella
3 public schools with 825 students, about 19.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terra Bella Elementary | K-5 | 481 | 18.5 |
| Carl Smith Middle | 6-8 | 273 | 22.8 |
| Saucelito Elementary | K-8 | 71 | 17.8 |
Towns near Terra Bella
- Porterville, CA7.2 mi · 62,623 people · home $285,700
- East Porterville, CA7.7 mi · 5,549 people · home $257,700
- Strathmore, CA12.9 mi · 2,830 people · home $213,200
- Earlimart, CA13.9 mi · 7,679 people · home $264,200
- Pixley, CA14.7 mi · 3,828 people · home $242,200
- Tipton, CA16.8 mi · 2,519 people · home $243,900
- Lindsay, CA17.5 mi · 12,659 people · home $286,400
- Delano, CA18.4 mi · 51,428 people · home $301,900
Terra Bella questions
Is Terra Bella, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Terra Bella scores better for retirees than 37% of California towns and quieter than 69%. 11.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.3).
How much does a house cost in Terra Bella?
The median owner-occupied home in Terra Bella is valued at $236,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,530, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,048 a month.
What is the weather like in Terra Bella?
July highs average 98.4°F and January lows 39.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.4 inches of snow.
Does Terra Bella get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Terra Bella 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)