San Benito County
CA · Pop. 66,056 · Suburban County
San Benito County, California covers 1,389 square miles with a population of 66,056 and a density of 47.6 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on lettuce, hay, cabbage. The median home price is $752,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.81%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 197-day growing season, average summer highs of 92.6°F and average winter lows of 27.7°F. Annual rainfall averages 17.2 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital is 22.7 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 98.7% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 197-day growing season in USDA zone 9a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.81% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 98.7% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- A low poverty rate of 7.8% signals a relatively stable local economy.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- Annual rainfall of just 17.2 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- A median home price of $752,000 raises the cost of entry relative to more affordable rural markets.
At a glance
San Benito County, CA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 22/100
- Median home price
- $752k
- Property tax
- 0.81%
- Growing season
- 197 days (zone 9a)
- Annual rainfall
- 17.2"
- Broadband
- 98.7%
- Nearest hospital
- Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, 22.7 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in San Benito County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in San Benito County?
- San Benito County is in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 197-day growing season, average summer highs of 92.6°F, and average winter lows of 27.7°F. The established crops are lettuce, hay, cabbage.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $752,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.81%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 98.7% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital is 22.7 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore California Resources
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LandWatch
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More counties in California
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Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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