F

Borrego Springs, CA

Source:

Affordability Score: 34/100

Population: 3,881 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Borrego Springs, CA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 3,881 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (34/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $74,018, median home value of $390,400, median rent of per month, and 30.3% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $3,001 per month (studio $2,288, 1BR $2,459, 3BR $3,998, 4BR $4,845). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $19,719 per year, consuming 27% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are housing, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 5.5% and poverty 4.1% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$74,018
Median household income
Education C-
30.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
5.3x
Home value $390,400 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent F
$3,001/mo
2BR fair market rent (49% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$19,719/yr
Center-based infant care (27% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$74,018
▲ 19% vs national
Per Capita Income
$54,331
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Poverty Rate
4.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
$390,400
▲ 42% vs national
Median Rent
Owner Occupied
68.3%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$3,001/mo
▲ 150% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$2,288
1BR
$2,459
2BR
$3,001
3BR
$3,998
4BR
$4,845

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
30.3%
▲ 0 ppt vs national
High School+
58.9%
Median Age
61.9
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$19,719/yr
27% of income
Toddler (Center)
$13,999/yr
Preschool (Center)
$12,616/yr
School-Age (Center)
$11,385/yr

What This Means

Borrego Springs, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (34/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 3,881. Challenges include housing and rent and childcare. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Borrego Springs, CA affordable?
Borrego Springs, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (34/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $74,018. Median home value is $390,400.
What is the cost of living in Borrego Springs?
Key cost metrics: 2BR fair market rent $3,001/mo. Infant childcare $19,719/yr. Median home value $390,400.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →