Guest, Sign inJoin
Compare towns

Atascadero vs Ripon

158 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (3.3× in Ripon) and household income (+46% in Ripon).

×
Atascadero, CAKnown for its schoolsCalifornia · 29,712 people
×
Ripon, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 16,201 people
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

★ What stands out · Report cards

Ripon places higher on 13 of 22 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $600 more a month in Atascadero

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Atascadero$4,570/mo
Typical home $780K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.74% · or rent about $1,854/mo · Housing →
Ripon$3,970/mo
Typical home $680K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.71% · or rent about $1,851/mo · Housing →

The difference: $600 a month, about $7,200 a year, between Atascadero and Ripon.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
AtascaderoRipon
Snow a year0″0″
January low—39°F
July high—95°F
Growing season (days)—305d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)84th63rd
Outdoors & history
AtascaderoRipon
Conserved land3.5%9.7%
Settled19791945
National Register places2—
Archive photos—5
Famous people born here14—
Community
AtascaderoRipon
Library hours a week39 hrs42 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

158 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Atascadero ↔ Ripon158 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

AtascaderoRipon
People
Population 29,712Highest 16,201Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +5.2%Lowest CA: +6.1% +12%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 40.4±1.7Highest 7% above CA 40.1±1.7Lowest 6% above CA
Atascadero and Ripon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 21%±2.3Lowest CA: 22% 26.1%±3.5Highest CA: 22%
Ripon and Atascadero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 18.5%±1.8Highest CA: 15.7% 17.1%±2.6Lowest CA: 15.7%
Atascadero and Ripon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 31.6%Highest CA: 37.1% 29.4%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.9%±1.1Lowest CA: 7.6% 7.8%±2.5Highest CA: 7.6%
Ripon and Atascadero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $91,429±$7kLowest 8% below CA $133,380±$25kHighest 35% above CA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $716,500±$31kHighest about the CA average $704,800±$35kLowest 4% below CA
Atascadero and Ripon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,854±$83Highest 9% below CA $1,851±$150Lowest 9% below CA
Atascadero and Ripon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $5,289Highest 3% above CA $5,034Lowest about the CA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 53.2%±7.8Lowest CA: 55.3% 54.7%±12Highest CA: 55.3%
Ripon and Atascadero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 11.4%Highest CA: 12% 5.4%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 64.6%Lowest CA: 55.9% 65.8%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than CA 1995Highest 19 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 23 minLowest 20% below CA 27 minHighest 7% below CA
Work from home 13.8%±2.6Highest CA: 17.2% 9.3%±2.5Lowest CA: 17.2%
Atascadero and Ripon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 21.1%Highest 11.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 14.3 miLowest 19.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.68Highest 0.62Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town San Luis Obispo (17%)Modesto (11%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in RiponFew work in Atascadero
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 3.5%Lowest 9.7%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 20.7 miHighest 10.6 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.8 miLowest 1.9 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 7Lowest 8Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 32.4Lowest 107Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#290 of 574 in CA
School district Atascadero UnifiedRipon Unified
High school in town Atascadero HighRipon High
Students per teacherat that high school 19.5Lowest 20.2Highest
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Atascadero neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Atascadero’s Town Square.

Ripon neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ripon’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Atascadero and Ripon

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Atascadero

Towns like Atascadero

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

Post to Atascadero

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in