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Compare towns

Jackson vs Calistoga

99 miles apart. The biggest differences: age 65+ (+12.8 pts in Jackson) and rent (+24% in Calistoga).

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Jackson, CAOne of the healthiest townsCalifornia · 5,048 people
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Calistoga, CAKnown for its schoolsCalifornia · 5,111 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 · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $4,690 more a month in Calistoga

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.

Jackson$2,500/mo
Typical home $435K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.59% · or rent about $1,429/mo · Housing →
Calistoga$7,180/mo
Typical home $1.07M (Zillow) · tax rate est. 1.8% · or rent about $1,767/mo · Housing →

The difference: $4,690 a month, about $56,200 a year, between Calistoga and Jackson.

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

Jackson places higher on 10 of 19 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.

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
JacksonCalistoga
Snow a year0″0″
January low40°F39°F
July high95°F90°F
Growing season (days)332d263d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)81st100th
Outdoors & history
JacksonCalistoga
Trails0 mi1 mi
Conserved land0.7%1.1%
Settled18481868
National Register places99
Archive photos1212
Famous people born here—3
Community
JacksonCalistoga
Library hours a week40 hrs46 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

99 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Jackson ↔ Calistoga99 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.

JacksonCalistoga
People
Population 5,048Lowest 5,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +7.9%Highest CA: +6.1% +1.4%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 50.2±6.1Highest 32% above CA 49.7±4.2Lowest 31% above CA
Jackson and Calistoga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 16.9%±4.4Highest CA: 22% 16.1%±6.5Lowest CA: 22%
Jackson and Calistoga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 38%±7.1Highest CA: 15.7% 25.2%±5.6Lowest CA: 15.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23.6%Lowest CA: 37.1% 32.5%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.6%±2.1Lowest CA: 7.6% 5.3%±3Highest CA: 7.6%
Calistoga and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $70,239±$18kLowest 29% below CA $85,446±$30kHighest 14% below CA
Calistoga and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $442,700±$49k 40% below CA —
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,429±$151Lowest 30% below CA $1,767±$171Highest 13% below CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,632Lowest 49% below CA $3,029Highest 41% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 58.7%±20.3Highest CA: 55.3% 42.8%±20.1Lowest CA: 55.3%
Jackson and Calistoga are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 10.9%Highest CA: 12% 5.6%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 60.5%Highest CA: 55.9% 50%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than CA 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 20 minLowest 30% below CA 24 minHighest 16% below CA
Work from home 2.6%±2.1Lowest CA: 17.2% 7.5%±5.4Highest CA: 17.2%
Calistoga and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 11.3%Lowest 26%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 39.3 miHighest 10.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.11Highest 0.90Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Sacramento (5%)St. Helena (8%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in CalistogaFew work in Jackson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.7%Lowest 1.1%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 0.7 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.3 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 2Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 52.1Lowest 66.6Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #270 of 574 in CA—
School district Amador County ROP · Amador County UnifiedCalistoga Joint Unified
High school in town Argonaut HighCalistoga Junior/Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school 19.1Highest 14.8Lowest
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.

Jackson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jackson’s Town Square.

Calistoga neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Calistoga’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Jackson

Towns like Jackson

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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