Should I Move To
Apple Valley, California is home to about 75,603 people. On cost of living, it lands in the expensive band — 16% above the national average. The median renter pays around $1,297 a month against a typical household income of $62,898. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 17 out of 100 (grade F), putting it at #999 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Apple Valley's composite cost-of-living index lands at 116 (100 = US average), which puts it in the expensive band. At $1,297/mo against $62,898 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 25% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $345,400.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is hot-summer — summer averages around 103°F, winter averages around 37°F. Precipitation totals about 4 inches a year. Almost entirely car-dependent. Sidewalks exist; they just don't connect to where you need to go. AQI runs about 49 — a "good" reading.
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Apple Valley doesn't obviously fit families. The profile-weighted score is 19/100 — a F. Its standout dimension is affordability (34/100); the soft spot is climate (7/100).
Apple Valley doesn't obviously fit retirees. The profile-weighted score is 19/100 — a F. Its standout dimension is affordability (34/100); the soft spot is climate (7/100).
Apple Valley doesn't obviously fit remote workers. The profile-weighted score is 22/100 — a F. Its standout dimension is affordability (34/100); the soft spot is climate (7/100).
Apple Valley doesn't obviously fit young professionals. The profile-weighted score is 16/100 — a F. Its standout dimension is affordability (34/100); the soft spot is climate (7/100).
Our overall score for Apple Valley is 17/100 — a F, sitting at #999 in the national ranking. It's a weighted average across the seven UrbRank dimensions.
By the composite index, Apple Valley sits at 116 — expensive, 16% above the national average. Median renter pays around $1,297 a month.
Apple Valley runs hot-summer on the weather. Summer's near 103°F, winter's near 37°F; 4 inches of precipitation annually.
Walk Score: 15/100. Almost entirely car-dependent. Sidewalks exist; they just don't connect to where you need to go.
Roughly 75,603 people live here, with 19% college-educated (bachelor's or higher) among adults 25+ with a median age of 36.
Drop Apple Valley into the comparison tool with any other US city and you'll get housing costs, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life data lined up side by side. Profile-specific leaderboards (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals) are linked from the navigation.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Apple Valley with other California cities scored on UrbRank.
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