Williams (formerly Central) is a city in Colusa County, California, United States. The population was 5,538 at the 2020 census, up from 5,123 at the 2010 census.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Williams ranks

All →

#12Highest graduation rate in CA #80Cheapest rent in CA #155Lowest property tax in CA All CA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code95987

Area code530

Living in Williams

Housing in Williams

$382K▲ 1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Williams home is worth about $382,000, up 1% in a year, 50% below the California typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Williams

Safety Grade C

Williams reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 66% report less. Within California, it does better than 56% of towns.

Violent crime per 1,000

Williams 2

California 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Williams 6.2

California 18.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Williams

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Williams for work: only 18% work in town. The top destinations are Colusa (7%), Woodland (5%) and Sacramento (4%). Half commute less than 28 miles.

Colusa

Woodland

Sacramento

Yuba City

18%Work in townlive and work in Williams 28 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,269Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Williams →

Health in Williams

B⁻

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 45% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with California

1better than CA·8worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 23 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 11 close Habits all close Care 3▼ 4 close Mind 1▼ 4 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

5.1%Fewer adults who have had cancerCA 6.4% · better 19.6%More uninsured adultsCA 10.6% · worse

Care nearby

Colusa Medical CenterColusa · 8.4 mi · ER

Ampla Health Colusa Medical & DentalColusa · 7.9 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Williams · CMS · HRSAHealth in Williams →

Natural hazards in Williams

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 76% of U.S. communities.

🌵 Drought🏚️ Earthquakes🌊 Inland flooding

10Does Williams flood?paid flood claims since 1998 3Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Williams

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Williams →

Climate in Williams

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Williams has mild winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 96°, a January night drops to 38°, and snow is almost unheard of.

59° / 39°Winter

75° / 47°Spring

94° / 60°Summer

79° / 49°Fall

How much snow does Williams get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Dec 1, with the last in spring around Feb 14.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.3° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Williams →

Schools in Williams

All Williams schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Williams’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 79% of California’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#149Best public schoolsof 574 in CA

DistrictWilliams UnifiedSchools6

Williams Primary ElementaryElementary · Grades K–3 · 407 students Williams Upper Elementary D-Middle · Grades 4–6 · 289 students Williams Junior/Senior High A+High · Grades 7–12 · 588 students S. William Abel Academy D-High · Grades 7–12 · 43 students Mid Valley High (Continuation)High · Grades 10–12 · 19 students Coastal Buttes AcademyOther · Grades K–12 · 12 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within CA. Ratings are from neighbors.