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San Marcos, CA

Full City Profile · California · Orange County County

3.1 /5.0
B Good
94,078 Population 3,829/sq mi density
$105,286 Median Income $44,376 per capita
$792,400 Home Value $943,389 Zillow
$2,191 Median Rent 36.0% income on rent
60°F Avg Temperature 325 sunny days/yr
196 Violent Crime/100K 969 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$105,286 median income, 2.9% unemployment
C
Affordability
2.4 / 5.0
$792,400 home value, $2,191/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
196 violent crimes/100K
A
Education
4.4 / 5.0
42.7% bachelor's degree or higher
San Marcos enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 60°F (16°C). Winters average 51°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. The area gets 325 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 29.4 inches. The area receives 1.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.

Temperature

51°F Jan (10°C) 72°F Jul (22°C)
Annual Average60.2°F
11% above US avg
January Average51°F (10°C)
July Average72°F (22°C)
Sunny Days325 days/yr

Geography

Elevation636 ft (194 m)
Area24.4 sq mi (63.2 km²)
Population Density3,829/sq mi
Coordinates33.1326°N, 117.1699°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyOrange County County
Nearest AirportSan Diego International (SAN)
28 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 29.4"
23% below US avg
Snowfall 1.0"
Wettest Month (Jan) 2.52"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.04"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0440 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)18.4 ppb
CO (Carbon Monoxide)0.35 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.7 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery High
Risk Score99.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability24.9 / 100
Community Resilience16.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane No Rating
Earthquake Very High
Wildfire Relatively High
Flood Very High
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively High
Winter Weather Very Low
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave No Rating
Landslide Relatively High
Coastal Flood Relatively High
Tsunami Relatively Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

10,567 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M7.3. Most recent: M2.8 on Aug 28, 2025.

Jun 28, 1992 The 1992 Landers, California Earthquake M7.3 137 km
Jun 28, 1992 The 1992 Big Bear, California Earthquake M6.3 123 km
Apr 23, 1992 The 1992 Joshua Tree, California Earthquake M6.1 121 km
Jun 28, 1991 The 1991 Sierra Madre, California Earthquake M5.8 148 km
Jun 28, 1992 3km NE of Yucca Valley, California M5.8 132 km
Jun 15, 2010 8km ESE of Ocotillo, CA M5.7 127 km
Jun 28, 1992 2km SSW of Joshua Tree, California M5.7 135 km
Jun 29, 1992 3km ESE of Yucca Valley, California M5.7 129 km
Oct 16, 1999 7km ENE of Running Springs, CA M5.6 124 km
Jun 28, 1992 11km SSE of Big Bear Lake, California M5.5 118 km
Feb 28, 1990 The 1990 Upland, California Earthquake M5.5 123 km
Jun 28, 1992 0km E of Yucca Valley, CA M5.5 129 km
Jul 7, 2010 20km NNW of Borrego Springs, CA M5.4 72 km
Jun 28, 1992 26km NNW of Yucca Valley, CA M5.4 148 km
Jul 1, 1992 24km N of Yucca Valley, California M5.3 148 km
Nov 27, 1992 10km NNW of Big Bear City, California M5.3 137 km
Dec 4, 1992 10km SE of Lucerne Valley, California M5.3 140 km
Sep 15, 1992 9km SE of Yucca Valley, California M5.3 128 km
Jun 28, 1992 1km N of Big Bear Lake, California M5.3 127 km
Jun 5, 2021 11km W of Calipatria, CA M5.3 143 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

70 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF2. Total: 9 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 22, 2008 EF2 83 km 0
Nov 7, 1966 EF2 90 km 0
Feb 19, 2005 EF1 39 km 0
Nov 10, 2000 EF1 25 km 0
Jan 29, 1998 EF1 15 km 0
Dec 21, 1997 EF1 98 km 0
Nov 11, 1997 EF1 86 km 0
Dec 22, 1996 EF1 95 km 0
Mar 27, 1991 EF1 98 km 0
Mar 27, 1991 EF1 2 km 0
Mar 19, 1991 EF1 43 km 0
Nov 9, 1982 EF1 68 km 0
Feb 20, 1980 EF1 39 km 0
Jan 31, 1979 EF1 95 km 0
Dec 18, 1978 EF1 21 km 0
Jul 20, 1974 EF1 72 km 0
Nov 7, 1966 EF1 85 km 0
Apr 8, 1965 EF1 89 km 0
Oct 8, 1961 EF1 17 km 0
Apr 1, 1958 EF1 71 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

2 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 1.2 m (4 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1862 S. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 1.2 m 48 km
1855 S. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 138 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Salton Buttes (145 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Salton Buttes Lava dome(s) -40 m (-131 ft) 210 145 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: CEDAR (268,362 ac, 2003).

Year Name Acres Distance
2003 CEDAR 268,362 43 km
2007 WITCH 167,551 38 km
2007 HARRIS 90,443 66 km
2002 PINES 65,407 56 km
2003 PARADISE 55,995 25 km
2007 POOMACHA 47,496 30 km
2006 ESPERANZA 40,566 85 km
2003 MINE/OTAY 37,232 64 km
2008 YELLOW 33,232 39 km
2022 FAIRVIEW 28,680 67 km
2013 MOUNTAIN 28,202 83 km
2007 SANTIAGO 27,605 80 km
1998 EDNA 27,561 86 km
2020 INDIA 24,193 38 km
1993 CALIFORNIA 23,899 58 km
2018 HOLY 22,845 69 km
1994 PALM 21,040 83 km
1993 ORTEGA 20,912 58 km
2013 SILVER 20,863 90 km
2003 COYOTE 19,215 62 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 51°F (10°C) 2.5 in Coldest, Wettest
February 57°F (14°C) 2.3 in
March 57°F (14°C) 2.3 in
April 60°F (16°C) 1.0 in
May 63°F (17°C) 0.3 in
June 66°F (19°C) 0.1 in
July 72°F (22°C) 0.0 in Driest
August 72°F (22°C) 0.1 in Warmest
September 70°F (21°C) 0.3 in
October 66°F (19°C) 0.4 in
November 60°F (16°C) 1.6 in
December 56°F (13°C) 1.8 in

San Marcos has a seasonal temperature swing of 21°F / from 51°F in January to 72°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 12.7 inches, with January being the wettest month (2.5") and July the driest (0.0").

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