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Freedom vs Amesti

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: trails (21× in Amesti) and growth since 2010 (+49.1 pts in Freedom).

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Freedom, CAOne of the healthiest townsCalifornia · 3,172 people
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Amesti, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 2,818 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.

FreedomOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 61%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors#319 most conserved land in CA0.1 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves All about Freedom →
AmestiAn outdoors town
Outdoors#109 most conserved land in CA2.1 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves Health56% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Amesti →
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.

Trails21×
Amesti has more miles of trail
Amesti 2.1 miFreedom 0.1 mi
Growth since 2010+49.1 pts
Freedom has grown faster since 2010
Freedom +24.9%Amesti -24.2%
Homeowners+24.1 pts renters
Freedom has more renters
Amesti 80.7%Freedom 56.6%
Average commute8 min
Freedom has the shorter commute
Amesti 39 minFreedom 31 min
Conserved land+14.4 pts
Amesti has more conserved land
Amesti 21.6%Freedom 7.2%
Street grid+63%
Freedom has the more walkable street grid
Freedom 40.8Amesti 25.1
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $710 more a month in Amesti

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.

Freedom$4,350/mo
Typical home $755K (Census) · tax rate 0.62% · or rent about $1,621/mo · Housing →
Amesti$5,060/mo
Typical home $879K (Census) · tax rate 0.61% · or rent about $1,660/mo · Housing →

The difference: $710 a month, about $8,500 a year, between Amesti and Freedom.

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

Freedom places higher on 13 of 18 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.

Schools
B−FreedomBetter than 52% of districts in the state B−AmestiBetter than 52% of districts in the state
Health
BFreedomHealthier than 61% of U.S. towns C+AmestiHealthier than 44% of U.S. towns
13Freedom
4Amesti

Lists won, of 18 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Fastest growingGrowth · 816 towns #49#809 Most remote workersWork · 801 towns #689#391 Fewest smokersHealth · 844 towns #235#530 Most conserved landOutdoors · 777 towns #319#109 Shortest commuteGetting around · 843 towns #582#778 HealthiestHealth · 844 towns #428#575 Lowest depressionHealth · 844 towns #288#420 Highest incomeIncome · 843 towns #430#305

Left end = #1 in California. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Freedom’s rankings →

Where they are

Freedom and Amesti share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

FreedomAmestiFreedomAmesti
Freedom ↔ Amesti1.5 miles apart · They share a border
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
FreedomAmesti
Snow a year0″0″
January low40°F40°F
July high71°F71°F
Growing season (days)324d324d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)97th97th
Outdoors & history
FreedomAmesti
Trails0 mi2 mi
Conserved land7.2%21.6%
Archive photos2—
Community
FreedomAmesti
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.

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.

FreedomAmesti
People
Population 3,172Highest 2,818Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +24.9%Highest CA: +6.1% -24.2%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 32.1±3.9Lowest 15% below CA 40.1±5.1Highest 6% above CA
Amesti and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 30.1%±6.7Highest CA: 22% 24.3%±5.3Lowest CA: 22%
Freedom and Amesti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 14.3%±2.2Lowest CA: 15.7% 21.3%±3.6Highest CA: 15.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 24.8%Highest CA: 37.1% 20.4%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.2%±3Highest CA: 7.6% 6.6%±3.2Lowest CA: 7.6%
Freedom and Amesti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $93,750±$41kLowest 5% below CA $108,833±$25kHighest 10% above CA
Amesti and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $755,300±$83kLowest about the CA average $879,400±$74kHighest 20% above CA
Amesti and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,621±$209Lowest 20% below CA $1,660±$784Highest 18% below CA
Amesti and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $4,656Lowest 9% below CA $5,331Highest 4% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 35.8%±16.1Lowest CA: 55.3% 78.5%±28.8Highest CA: 55.3%
Amesti and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 7.3%Lowest CA: 12% 13.4%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 56.6%Lowest CA: 55.9% 80.7%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1965Lowest 11 yrs older than CA 1970Highest 6 yrs older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minLowest 7% above CA 39 minHighest 36% above CA
Work from home 5.4%±3.4Lowest CA: 17.2% 13.4%±8Highest CA: 17.2%
Amesti and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.2%Lowest 4.2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 13.8 miLowest 14.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.22Highest 0.21Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Watsonville (19%)Watsonville (18%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in AmestiFew work in Freedom
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 7.2%Lowest 21.6%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.1 miLowest 2.1 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.7 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1 1
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 40.8Highest 25.1Lowest
Schools
School district Pajaro Valley Unified · Santa Cruz County Office of EducationPajaro Valley Unified
High school in town Santa Cruz County Career Advancement CharterNone in town
Students per teacherat that high school 27.2 —
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.

Freedom neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Freedom’s Town Square.

Amesti neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Amesti’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Freedom and Amesti

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

Bordering Freedom

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Watsonville51,712 people · $686K homes
A
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Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley2,127 people · $1.19M homes

Towns like Freedom

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Wheatland3,876 people · $429K homes
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Colfax2,407 people · $434K homes
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Williams5,585 people · $370K homes
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Colma1,636 people · $1.06M homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks California towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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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