2027 MNM LIVABILITY INDEX

Apple Valley

California (CA)
Best for: Residents seeking a high-desert community and more residential space
Apple Valley CA 2027 livability
Small City
2027 CITY CLASSSmall City25,000–99,999 residents
Modern Livability63.2/ 100
AT A GLANCE

Everyday numbers

Population75,247
Median Home$407,400
Median Rent$1,444
Median Household Income$69,882
Cost of LivingRPP 106.4 (US=100; BEA 2024; metro area)
Average Commute41.1 min (ACS 2020-2024)
Unemployment7.5% (ACS 2020-2024; civilian labor force)
Metro AreaRiverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
2027 MODERN LIVABILITY SCORECARD

How this city actually lives

Twelve dimensions capture both hard data and the everyday experience traditional lists tend to miss.

63.2overall
Housing & Financial Reality65.0

Housing burden, taxes, insurance, utilities and what local incomes actually buy.

Ease of Living58.0

Errands, commute friction, parking, services and the effort required for daily life.

Safety & Stability59.0

Personal, neighborhood, road and environmental stability.

Economic Opportunity63.0

Jobs, wages, career mobility, employer diversity and economic resilience.

Health & Wellness69.0

Healthcare access, activity, mental wellness, healthy food and environmental health.

Beauty & Sense of Place72.0

Scenery, architecture, trees, cleanliness, public realm and distinct sense of place.

Mobility & Congestion43.0

Traffic delay, commute reliability, walking, cycling and transit usefulness.

Nature & Escape77.0

Trails, water, mountains, parks, public lands and how easily residents can escape.

Diversity & Belonging71.0

Diversity, integration, accessibility, newcomer friendliness and community connection.

Climate & Environment60.0

Comfortable weather, air quality, severe weather and environmental exposure.

Community & Culture56.0

Restaurants, arts, events, third places, recreation and social life.

Infrastructure & Connectivity64.0

Broadband, utilities, airport, highways, transit and essential connectivity.

THE THINGS OLD-SCHOOL LISTS MISS

What daily life feels like

Traffic / CongestionACS average one-way commute: 41.1 minutes (2020-2024, excluding workers at home). Longer regional trips are a material daily-life tradeoff. This is a commute measure, not a live traffic-delay index.
Weekend EscapeJames A. Woody Community Park provides walking trails and outdoor recreation facilities. Regional trips depend on travel time and seasonal conditions.
WalkabilityCitywide Walk Score 13/100 (directory checked October 2026). Many errands require a car; selected centers may be more walkable.
Airport AccessOntario International Airport (ONT) is a regional air-travel option. Check the airport for current destinations; no drive-time estimate is assumed.
Outdoor AccessJames A. Woody Community Park provides walking trails and outdoor recreation facilities.
Healthcare AccessProvidence St. Mary Medical Center provides a local or nearby hospital option. Check insurance networks, service availability and specialist access individually.
Air QualityAir quality changes by day and season. Check AirNow for local ozone and fine-particle conditions, particularly during heat or smoke events; no citywide annual AQI rating is assigned here.
Third Places / Social LifeApple Valley's parks and recreation facilities provide public gathering spaces. A spread-out desert town with wide roads and distant mountain views. The mix of libraries, cafes and community activities varies by neighborhood.
EDITORIAL VIEW

More than a number

Trajectory: Broadly stable: -0.2% population change from 2024 to 2025 (same Census vintage). This describes population only, not a forecast.
WHY IT STANDS OUT

Why we chose it

Apple Valley has 75,247 residents in the Census Bureau's July 1, 2025 estimate and is #516 in the incorporated-place population ranking used for this batch. The ACS 2020-2024 estimates report a median owner-occupied home value of $407,400, median monthly gross rent of $1,444, and median household income of $69,882. These are survey-period estimates, not current listings or asking rents. James A. Woody Community Park provides walking trails and outdoor recreation facilities. Livability scores are provisional editorial assessments for review, not official Census ratings.

REAL LIFE

What living here actually feels like

A spread-out desert town with wide roads and distant mountain views.

STRENGTHS

Where it shines

Access to Providence St. Mary Medical Center; James A. Woody Community Park provides walking trails and outdoor recreation facilities.

TRADEOFFS

Where it falls short

Car dependence, long regional trips and hot summers with colder winter nights.

ALL 2027 RANKINGS

Where Apple Valley ranks