City in California, United States

San Marcos

$927kMedian Home
345Days with 5+ hrs sun
73°FAvg High Temp
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View on MapPopulation93kCenter elevation581 ft
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Weather & Forecast

Quick Read

San Marcos is a city in the North County region of San Diego County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 94,833. It is the site of California State University San Marcos and Palomar College. The city is bordered by Escondido to the east, Encinitas to the southwest, Carlsbad to the west, and Vista to the northwest. Lake San Marcos is an enclave, or county island, within the southwestern part of the city and its sphere of influence but is an unincorporated community.Wikipedia

Temperatures are mild year-round. Most rain falls in winter. True heat and cold are both fairly limited. Humidity stays fairly steady through the year. Air quality can be a watchout.

Mild winter temperaturesWinter rainSteady humidityValley of Discovery
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Place

Where It Is

Location Context
San Marcos, California
Latitude33.14°
Longitude-117.17°
Population93k
Center elevation581 ft

State Context

CaliforniaU.S. state

California is a state in the Western United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the north, the Mexican state of Baja California to the south, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. With a population of over 39 million across an area of 163,696 square miles (423,970 km2), it is the most populous U.S. state and the third largest by land area.Wikipedia

Income tax: 1.00% - 14.40%Avg sales tax: 8.85%Property tax: 0.69%Official school data available

About the Region

California

California includes coastal metropolitan areas, the Central Valley, mountain communities, and desert cities. The Bay Area and Los Angeles are major urban examples, but neither represents the full range of places within the state.

Coastal influence, elevation, and inland location can produce very different temperature and rainfall patterns. Housing costs, transport, and access to services vary between cities and neighborhoods. Use the city’s own figures rather than treating statewide conditions as a local forecast or budget.

Outdoors

Nearby Parks & Nature

Nature & Park Feeds

Closest protected landscapes, reserves, and big park systems surfaced from the same nearby feeds used in compare.

Distances in miles
National Park Service feed

Federal Park Sites

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OpenStreetMap feed

Local Nature & Reserves

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Sources: National Park Service and OpenStreetMap
People

City Profile

Median Age36 yrs
College Educated41%bachelor's or higher
Work From Home16%of workforce
Practical

Housing Costs & Income

Housing
$3,170/mo
Median rent
$927k
Median home price
Rent burden38% of income
Household Income
$99k
Median annual
Daily life

Livability

Safety Score
76
Walk Score
33
School Rating
6.9/10
Internet
Fiber
11%
Cable
98%
address availability
The year

Climate Through the Year

Sunshine
345
days with 5+ hours of sun/year

Annual average of days with more than five hours of sunshine, not necessarily clear skies.

95% of the year
Avg High Temp
73°F
annual average
Humidity Pattern
Steady humidity
70% warm season / 72% cool season
Comfort Score
96/100
Excellent
Temp Swing
22°F
seasonal high-temp spread
Annual precipitation
17"
inches per year
Annual snowfall
0"
inches per year
Typical Air Quality
52
Moderate · 2024 modeled average
How To Read Comfort

Comfort combines temperature band fit, humidity fit, seasonal swing, and penalties for long stretches of extreme heat or cold. Higher scores mean the yearly pattern stays closer to an easier day-to-day climate band.

Monthly Temperature
Daylight Span (Sunrise to Sunset)
Precipitation Distribution
17" of precipitation per year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Humidity Through The Year
Hover any month for the exact RH value. This is measuring monthly relative humidity, not dew point or current weather.
humid summers
Summer 72% · Winter 67% · Nov-Mar 57-77%
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Hover a month for exact RH and seasonal context.
Watchouts

Natural Hazard Risk

Flood Risk
minimal
FEMA classification
Wildfire Risk
moderate
FEMA rating
Poor Air Days
35 days
per year with AQI > 100
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