What Living in Los Banos Is Like ☀️ 🏠 | Ultimate Moving to Los Banos CA Guide

If you’re considering moving to Los Banos, here is everything you need to know! 

Los Banos (or Los Baños) is a Merced County city located in the San Joaquin Valley near State Route 152 and Interstate 5. Los Banos is known for its agriculture, tight-knit community, and numerous lovely parks and is commonly referred to as “The Crossroads of California.” Los Banos is Spanish and translates into “the baths” in English. The city of Los Baños, California, is named after the spring that feeds the San Joaquin Valley wetlands.

Spanish explorers visited Los Banos Calif, in the early 1800s, but the city was officially established in 1889 as Los Banos. Los Banos is a very nice place to live; the economy is strong, the cost of living is only 9% above the US average, and the demographics are diverse.

Where Is Los Banos California?

Los Banos is located in Merced County in the San Joaquin Valley and is part of the Merced, CA Metro Area. The city is near State Route 152 and Interstate 5; Trent and Brito, California, border the city.  Los Banos is 79.2 miles from San Jose and 70.7 miles from Fresno.

The Bus provides public bus transportation to Los Banos. The Fare is $1.50 per trip (within the same city/community.) The service area is anywhere in Merced, Atwater, and Winton; traveling between cities will cost $3 per trip. You can access the bus routes and schedules online and track the bus in real-time online.

Los Banos Population & Demographics

The population of Los Banos, CA, is 45,532; this figure has seen a 3.3% (or a 5,980-person) increase since 2010. Los Banos Calif, is the second largest Merced County city and has the fourth highest median income. The median household income here is $69,607, which is slightly above the US average of $69,021.

You can expect diverse demographics while living in Los Banos; the racial and ethnic makeup is 47.5% White (18.8% White non-Hispanic or Latino), 73.2% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% two or more races, 2.4% Asian, 2.3% Black or African American, 1.2% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. Los Banos has a notable Hispanic or Latino population! And the foreign-born population is 28.3%, which is 10% more than its metro area.

Additional Los Banos Demographics: 

• Median age: 29 years old
• Sex ratio: 51 males to 49 females
• Mean commute to work: 49.4 minutes
• Marital status: 52% married, 48% unmarried
• Educational attainment: 70.4% have high school diplomas or higher, and 10.9% have bachelor's degrees or higher
• Veteran population: 3.9%

Notable people from Los Banos

• Mack Wheat

Is Los Banos CA Safe?

Before moving to Los Banos, you should analyze its crime rate statistics. 

According to the FBI, Los Banos has a crime rate that’s 7.3% higher than the state and 18.1% higher than the country; however, Los Banos also boasts a handful of nice areas that see very little crime!

Additional crime rate statistics: 

• Los Banos crime rate per 100k people: 2,770
• California crime rate per 100k people: 2,581
• US crime rate per 100k people: 2,346

• Los Banos violent crime rate per 100k people: 528
• California violent crime rate per 100k people: 442
• US violent crime rate per 100k people: 388

• Los Banos property crime rate per 100k people: 2,241
• California property crime rate per 100k people: 2,139
• US property crime rate per 100k people: 1,958

Although Los Banos does have higher crime rates than the state and national averages, there are still many safe places to live in the city (which we discuss below!) You can take comfort in knowing the Los Banos Police Department has 43 sworn officers protecting the citizens living in Los Banos!

Cost of Living in Los Banos

Unlike most California cities, Los Banos is an affordable place to live! The Cost of Living Index (COLI) in Los Banos is 109, which is only 9% above the US average. Groceries are only 1.1% more expensive here, whereas the cost of utilities index is 110.2.

Typical Los Banos living expenses:

• Inexpensive restaurant meal: $15.00
• Gallon of milk $3.71
• Load of white bread: $3.00
• Pound of white rice: $1.35
• Pound of local cheese: $3.86
• Pound of apples: $1.53
• Average Los Banos utilities per month: $319 (per Doxo)

Source: Numbeo

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) says a family of four can live comfortably with an annual household income of $82,079. The EPI also says you can expect to spend $12,804 on housing annually. Whether you buy or rent, the cost of housing in Los Banos is significant.

The average Los Banos home price is $480,00, and the price per square foot is $280. According to RentCafe, the average rent in Los Banos, CA, is $1,515 for a 735-square-foot rental. The cost of housing in Los Banos is 32.2% higher than that of the average US city. Although there are many houses for sale in Los Banos, it may be a good idea to invest now; the Los Banos real estate market will likely become more competitive as the city grows.

Best Neighborhoods in Los Banos | Where to Live in Los Banos

Here are some of the best places to live in Los Banos!

Jolin Park | Family-Friendly Community

Jolin Park is a family-friendly neighborhood located near Park Arcadia off of Ward Road. Here, you can easily hop on E Pacheco Blvd (State Route 33) to Interstate 5 for a convenient commute! Homes sell for between $300,000 and $500,000 in Jolin Park. 

Downtown Los Banos | Urban Neighborhood

Downtown Los Banos is a great area.  Apartments and condos are popular here, but homes are occasionally for sale. Los Banos has a developed and lively downtown area, which is great for younger families or couples. If you’re looking for a diverse Los Banos neighborhood, browse its downtown—6th Ave (Main Street) and surrounding areas.

Los Banos Weather & Climate

The Weather in Los Banos is typical of central California—the summers are long, hot, and dry, and the winters are short, damp, and cold. The average high in the hot season is 92 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average low in the cold season is 38 degrees Fahrenheit. The warm weather lasts from early June to late September, and the cold season runs from late November to mid-June.

Los Banos has a Koppen Classification of semi-arid; these climates typically experience droughts alongside random spouts of intense rainfall. The annual rainfall is 10 inches (well below the US average of 39 inches); the average annual snowfall is 0 inches. The city sees 260 sunny days yearly (55 more than the average US city), and the average UV index is 5.3.

Weather in Los Banos, Calif, is enjoyable most of the year, but the best time to visit Los Banos is mid-June to late September; you can experience warm weather activities and soak in enough sunshine for the whole year!

Things to Do in Los Banos Ca

While many of the best Los Banos shopping options are in downtown Los Banos, Canal Farm Shopping Center, and Total Fashion Inc. are also great spots.

Top-tier shopping isn’t all Los Banos has to offer; there are plenty of other fun things to do in Los Banos, CA.

Premiere Cinemas - Los Banos

Premiere Cinema is a notable Los Banos movie theater; this is a great family-friendly activity or date night option.

245 Mercey Springs Rd, Los Banos, CA 93635, (209) 827-9400

Los Banos Wildlife Area

Los Banos Wildlife Area is a gorgeous wildlife refuge in Los Banos. You can fish, bird watch, hike, or enjoy the picturesque wetlands.

18110 Henry Miller Ave, Los Banos, CA 93635, (209) 826-0463

Milliken Museum

Milliken Museum is a small history museum showcasing local art and memorabilia.

Los Banos Co Park, 905 E Pacheco Blvd, Los Banos, CA 93635, (209) 826-5505

Additional Attractions in and Near Los Banos

• Los Banos Creek Reservoir
• San Luis National Wildlife Refuge
• Oliveira Park

The Los Banos Parks and Rec Department maintains the numerous beautiful parks in Los Banos. If you’re moving to Los Banos, you may want to watch the special events calendar or monthly newsletter to keep up with your potential future home!

Los Banos Restaurants

While Mexican cuisine is popular in Los Banos, the city boasts an assortment of cuisines from varying cultures! Here are the top places to eat in Los Banos!

Wool Growers Restaurant

Wool Growers (sometimes called WoolGrowers) is one of the most notable eateries in the city that’s perfectly positioned in downtown Los Banos. Here, you can enjoy Basque cuisine like lamb stew and chicken and rice.

609 H St, Los Banos, CA 93635, (209) 826-4593

Black Bear Diner Los Banos

Black Bear Diner offers comfort food like pancakes, meatloaf, and steak and eggs. They’re a highly-reviewed Los Banos restaurant with options for the whole family.

955 W Pacheco Blvd, Los Banos, CA 93635, (209) 826-2616

Eddie's Famous Cafe

Eddie’s Cafe is a notable brunch spot in Los Banos. Popular menu items are their french toast, homemade salsa, and Chilaquiles.

401 W Pacheco Blvd, Los Banos, CA 93635, (209) 826-2379

Los Banos Jobs

Although Los Banos has an unemployment rate of 14.5%, there are still plenty of jobs in Los Banos. The likely cause of the city’s high unemployment rate is workforce readiness; many people living in Los Banos lack experience—only 10.9% of residents have college diplomas. If you're considering moving to Los Banos, the job market won’t be overly saturated, likely leading to an easier job-hunting experience! Another pro is that the city of Los Banos is expected to see a 28.1% future job growth by 2033 and has already seen a 2.4% job market increase since 2022.

Los Banos's economy employs 16,800 people, and the leading industries in Los Banos are agriculture and mining, construction, manufacturing, and wholesale. The main employers in Merced County are Community Action Agency, Costco Wholesale, and Foster Farms. Although public administration isn’t a leading industry here, a handful of City of Los Banos jobs are hiring right now!

People living in Los Banos, Cali, are earning an impressive living! The average hourly rate in Los Banos is $17.38, and the average base salary is $71,000. Registered dental assistants (RDA) and medical assistants earn an average hourly rate of $18, cashiers earn an average of $13 an hour, and the average pharmacy technician gets paid $16 in Los Banos.

Los Baños has a healthy economy to support you, but if you need to venture out of town to find your dream job, consider its average commute time of 49.4 minutes. Los Banos may be located in central California, but it's far from other large economies.

Schools in Los Banos

The city of Los Banos is part of the Los Banos Unified School District (LBUSD); the district contains 17 schools and 10,858 students. The graduation rate is 80.6%, and they received a college readiness score of 18.1 by U.S. News. 90% of the students are minorities, and 44.5% are economically disadvantaged.

LBUSD provides before and after-school programs alongside summer enrichment activities, which helps many working parents living in Los Banos. The district spends 4,383.4 million dollars on support services annually.

Los Banos isn’t just an excellent place for K-12 to come and learn—there are a couple of notable colleges in and near Los Banos. Merced College and San José State University are great options. Merced College is in Los Banos, and San Jose University is about 1.5 hours north in San Jose.

The Los Banos Library is another testament to the city’s bountiful educational resources. The public library offers unlimited wifi, a quiet study space, and storytime for your children. Although it’s closed on Mondays, its assets are available the rest of the week!

Los Banos Statistics & Information

• County: Merced County
• Los Banos area: 10.12 square miles
• Los Banos zip code: 93635
• Los Banos area code: 209
• Los Banos elevation: 118 feet
• Los Banos time zone: Pacific Daylight Time (GMT-7)
• Closest airport to Los Banos: Los Banos Municipal Airport (LSN) is less than one mile from the center of Los Banos

Los Banos CA Map

Explore more things to do with this map of Los Banos.

If you’re considering moving to Los Banos, Grace Moving can help! We’re skilled Los Banos moving who can make your transition easy and stress free. Reach out at 209-551-7772 for a free moving estimate.