Living in San Marcos, CA
Suburb in California
San Marcos is a suburb in California, home to about 94,000 people, with 2.9 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a moderate pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is San Marcos a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 13 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Easy flying: SAN is 27 mi away
- Great outdoors: hills or mountains nearby
- Safe: violent crime is 0.5× the US rate (FBI 2019)
👎 Cons
- Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $865k, and rent is $4,000 a month
- Higher taxes: about $3,279 state income tax per resident, 0.79% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how San Marcos ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in San Marcos: common questions
What is the cost of living in San Marcos?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $865k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $4,000 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 112, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in San Marcos?
California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.79% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is San Marcos safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.5× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in San Marcos?
San Marcos is warm all year: winter days average around 69°F and summer days around 86°F.
Does San Marcos get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and earthquakes: 11 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.17 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to San Marcos?
The nearest major airport is SAN, about 27 mi away.
How San Marcos scores
Each bar compares San Marcos with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is San Marcos right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.