What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to Big Bear City, CA, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
Big Bear City is a city in San Bernardino County, California, with an estimated population of 12,738. It anchors the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area. The median home value in Big Bear City is $395,087 as of 2026-04, down 5.8% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +2.8% annual growth, and the market currently sits about 17% below its 5-year peak. Rents in Big Bear City average $2,173 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+0.2%). The composite momentum score is 41 of 100 (Cooling). Buyers may find more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.
Prices have come off recent highs (-16.6% from peak). Buyers may have more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.
Reasons people move here
- Reset opportunity: 17% off recent peak but +6.9% annualized over 10 years — long-run trend is up even if the last year wasn't.
- The data is the data: Big Bear City has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 2-criteria momentum score on this page.
Things to know first
- Prices actively falling: down 5.8% in the last 12 months — buyer sentiment has flipped. Sellers competing on price.
- 17% off recent peak — buyers are getting through-the-cycle pricing, not the peak.
- Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.
More about Big Bear City
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.