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Compare towns

Avalon vs Colma

379 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (45× in Avalon) and jobs per worker (5.3× in Colma).

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Avalon, CAOne of the healthiest townsCalifornia · 3,338 people
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Colma, CAOne of the safest townsCalifornia · 1,636 people
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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.

AvalonOne of the healthiest towns
Health53% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Outdoors#330 most trails in CA9.0 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves SafetySafer than 22%of U.S. towns we grade All about Avalon →
ColmaOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 0%of U.S. towns we grade Work4,174 jobsbased in Colma, a regional job hub Housing$1.07M typical home41% above the CA typical home All about Colma →
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.

Trails45×
Avalon has more miles of trail
Avalon 9.0 miColma 0.2 mi
Jobs per worker5.3×
Colma is more of a job hub
Colma 6.08Avalon 1.14
Work in town+36.4 pts
More of Avalon’s workers stay in town
Avalon 40.6%Colma 4.2%
Street grid2.7×
Colma has the more walkable street grid
Colma 25.0Avalon 9.1
Average commute17 min
Avalon has the shorter commute
Colma 28 minAvalon 12 min
Typical home built44 yrs
Avalon’s homes are older
Colma 1990Avalon 1946
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $860 more a month in Colma

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.

Avalon$5,440/mo
Typical home $927K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.75% · or rent about $2,006/mo · Housing →
Colma$6,300/mo
Typical home $1.07M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.74% · or rent about $2,303/mo · Housing →

The difference: $860 a month, about $10,300 a year, between Colma and Avalon.

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.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

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.

Safety
C−AvalonSafer than 22% of U.S. towns D−ColmaSafer than 0% of U.S. towns
Schools
BAvalonBetter than 60% of districts in the state –ColmaNot graded
Health
B−AvalonHealthier than 47% of U.S. towns B+ColmaHealthier than 68% of U.S. towns
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
AvalonColma
Snow a year—0″
January low—45°F
July high—69°F
Growing season (days)—365d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)84th91st
Outdoors & history
AvalonColma
Trails9 mi0 mi
Conserved land3.2%0.1%
Settled19131924
National Register places4—
Archive photos1812
Famous people born here2—
Community
AvalonColma
Library hours a week40 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined01

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

379 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

AvalonCAColmaCA
Avalon ↔ Colma379 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.

AvalonColma
People
Population 3,338Highest 1,636Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -7.2%Highest CA: +6.1% -15.9%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 41.9±10.4Highest 11% above CA 38.1±4.8Lowest about the CA average
Avalon and Colma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 19.9%±8.4Lowest CA: 22% 22.6%±4.2Highest CA: 22%
Colma and Avalon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 24%±9.8Highest CA: 15.7% 15.5%±2.8Lowest CA: 15.7%
Avalon and Colma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.8%Highest CA: 37.1% 26.7%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.4%±5.1Lowest CA: 7.6% 3.5%±1.6Highest CA: 7.6%
Colma and Avalon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $105,139±$27kLowest 6% above CA $148,295±$23kHighest 50% above CA
Colma and Avalon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $936,000±$101kLowest 27% above CA $1,062,000±$51kHighest 45% above CA
Colma and Avalon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,006±$336Lowest about the CA average $2,303±$414Highest 13% above CA
Colma and Avalon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $7,039Lowest 37% above CA $7,830Highest 53% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 58.6%±24Highest CA: 55.3% 45.2%±11.4Lowest CA: 55.3%
Avalon and Colma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 11.5%Highest CA: 12% 6.7%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 51.4%Lowest CA: 55.9% 53.3%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1946Lowest 30 yrs older than CA 1990Highest 14 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 12 minLowest 60% below CA 28 minHighest about the CA average
Work from home 9.3%±12Lowest CA: 17.2% 21.4%±9Highest CA: 17.2%
Colma and Avalon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 40.6%Highest 4.2%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 35.8 miHighest 8.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.14Lowest 6.08Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Los Angeles (12%)San Francisco (33%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ColmaFew work in Avalon
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 3.2%Highest 0.1%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 9.0 miHighest 0.2 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.2 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 3Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 9.1Lowest 25.0Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #388 of 574 in CA—
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.

Avalon neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Avalon’s Town Square.

Colma neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 5d

Colma's Hidden Viewpoints

1 neighbor in Colma can answer.

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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.

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