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Colma vs Point Arena

109 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (19× in Point Arena) and home values (2.4× in Colma).

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Colma, CAOne of the safest townsCalifornia · 1,636 people
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Point Arena, CAA history townCalifornia · 789 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.

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 →
Point ArenaA history town
HistorySettled in 190812 places on the National Register SchoolsBetter than 29%of CA districts Housing$562K typical home27% below the CA typical home All about Point Arena →
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.

Trails19×
Point Arena has more miles of trail
Point Arena 3.8 miColma 0.2 mi
Home values2.4×
Homes cost more in Colma
Colma $1,062,000Point Arena $436,000
Property tax bill2.1×
Tax bills are bigger in Colma
Colma $7,830Point Arena $3,667
Jobs per worker4.1×
Colma is more of a job hub
Colma 6.08Point Arena 1.48
Street grid2.6×
Colma has the more walkable street grid
Colma 25.0Point Arena 9.5
Average commute9 min
Point Arena has the shorter commute
Colma 28 minPoint Arena 19 min
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $2,960 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.

Colma$6,300/mo
Typical home $1.07M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.74% · or rent about $2,303/mo · Housing →
Point Arena$3,340/mo
Typical home $562K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.84% · or rent about $1,917/mo · Housing →

The difference: $2,960 a month, about $35,500 a year, between Colma and Point Arena.

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
D−ColmaSafer than 0% of U.S. towns –Point ArenaNot graded
Schools
–ColmaNot graded CPoint ArenaBetter than 29% of districts in the state
Health
B+ColmaHealthier than 68% of U.S. towns –Point ArenaNot graded
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
ColmaPoint Arena
Snow a year0″—
January low45°F—
July high69°F—
Growing season (days)365d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)91st83rd
Outdoors & history
ColmaPoint Arena
Trails0 mi4 mi
Conserved land0.1%15.1%
Settled19241908
National Register places—12
Archive photos1212
Community
ColmaPoint Arena
Library hours a week—39 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined10

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

109 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

ColmaCAPoint ArenaCA
Colma ↔ Point Arena109 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.

ColmaPoint Arena
People
Population 1,636Highest 789Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -15.9% CA: +6.1% —
Median age 38.1±4.8Highest about the CA average 36.5±5.4Lowest 4% below CA
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.6%±4.2Lowest CA: 22% 28.4%±6.5Highest CA: 22%
Point Arena and Colma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 15.5%±2.8Highest CA: 15.7% 11.9%±5.7Lowest CA: 15.7%
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.7%Lowest CA: 37.1% 29.9%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.5%±1.6Highest CA: 7.6% 0%±2.5Lowest CA: 7.6%
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $148,295±$23kHighest 50% above CA $108,095±$49kLowest 9% above CA
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $1,062,000±$51kHighest 45% above CA $436,000±$21kLowest 41% below CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,303±$414Highest 13% above CA $1,917±$954Lowest 6% below CA
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $7,830Highest 53% above CA $3,667Lowest 28% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 45.2%±11.4Highest CA: 55.3% 41.9%±13.8Lowest CA: 55.3%
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 6.7%Lowest CA: 12% 10.1%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 53.3%Highest CA: 55.9% 51.7%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1990Highest 14 yrs newer than CA 1976Lowest same as CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 28 minHighest about the CA average 19 minLowest 33% below CA
Work from home 21.4%±9Highest CA: 17.2% 14.3%±8Lowest CA: 17.2%
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 4.2%Lowest 11.3%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 8.3 miLowest 19.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 6.08Highest 1.48Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town San Francisco (33%)Manchester (6%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Point ArenaFew work in Colma
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.1%Lowest 15.1%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.2 miLowest 3.8 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 2.7 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 2Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 25.0Highest 9.5Lowest
Schools
School district —Arena Union Elementary · Point Arena Joint Union High
High school in town —Point Arena High
Students per teacherat that high school — 10.5
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.

Colma neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 5d

Colma's Hidden Viewpoints

1 neighbor in Colma can answer.

Point Arena neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Point Arena’s Town Square.

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Set another town beside Colma and Point Arena

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Bordering Colma

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Daly City101,964 people · $1.12M homes
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South San Francisco64,305 people · $1.19M homes

Towns like Colma

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Avalon3,338 people · $936K homes
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San Juan Bautista2,033 people · $786K homes
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Colfax2,407 people · $434K homes
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Sutter Creek2,702 people · $544K homes

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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