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Jackson vs Oceano

225 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (3.7× in Jackson) and work from home (+13.7 pts in Oceano).

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Jackson, CAOne of the healthiest townsCalifornia · 5,048 people
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Oceano, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 7,128 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.

JacksonOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 69%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Schools#270 for schools in CAof 574 towns Housing$435K typical home43% below the CA typical home All about Jackson →
OceanoAn outdoors town
Outdoors#158 most walkable in CA0.3 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves SchoolsBetter than 18%of CA districts Housing$678K typical home11% below the CA typical home All about Oceano →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

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

Jobs per worker3.7×
Jackson is more of a job hub
Jackson 1.11Oceano 0.30
Work from home+13.7 pts
More people work from home in Oceano
Oceano 16.3%Jackson 2.6%
Street grid2.2×
Oceano has the more walkable street grid
Oceano 116Jackson 52.1
Growth since 2010+9.3 pts
Jackson has grown faster since 2010
Jackson +7.9%Oceano -1.4%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,360 more a month in Oceano

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 →
Oceano$3,850/mo
Typical home $678K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.53% · or rent about $1,584/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,360 a month, about $16,300 a year, between Oceano 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 15 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.

Safety
CJacksonSafer than 27% of U.S. towns –OceanoNot graded
Schools
C+JacksonBetter than 44% of districts in the state C−OceanoBetter than 18% of districts in the state
Health
B+JacksonHealthier than 69% of U.S. towns C+OceanoHealthier than 39% of U.S. towns
15Jackson
4Oceano

Lists won, of 19 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 844 towns #10#525 Most remote workersWork · 801 towns #777#308 Fastest growingGrowth · 816 towns #259#693 Best schoolsSchools · 574 towns #270#566 Most walkableOutdoors · 841 towns #539#158 Most conserved landOutdoors · 777 towns #699#390 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 844 towns #241#568 Fewest smokersHealth · 844 towns #329#617

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

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
JacksonOceano
Snow a year0″0″
January low40°F46°F
July high95°F67°F
Growing season (days)332d365d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)81st82nd
Outdoors & history
JacksonOceano
Trails0 mi0 mi
Conserved land0.7%4.4%
Settled1848—
National Register places91
Archive photos1212
Community
JacksonOceano
Library hours a week40 hrs23 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

225 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

JacksonCAOceanoCA
Jackson ↔ Oceano225 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.

JacksonOceano
People
Population 5,048Lowest 7,128Highest
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 46.4±3.4Lowest 22% above CA
Jackson and Oceano are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 16.9%±4.4Lowest CA: 22% 19.9%±3.2Highest CA: 22%
Oceano and Jackson 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% 27.4%±6.4Lowest CA: 15.7%
Jackson and Oceano are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23.6%Highest CA: 37.1% 21.2%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.6%±2.1Lowest CA: 7.6% 5.9%±2.3Highest CA: 7.6%
Oceano 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 $71,598±$14kHighest 28% below CA
Oceano 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±$49kLowest 40% below CA $556,100±$80kHighest 24% below CA
Oceano and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,429±$151Lowest 30% below CA $1,584±$628Highest 22% below CA
Oceano and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,632Lowest 49% below CA $2,928Highest 43% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 58.7%±20.3Highest CA: 55.3% 44%±3Lowest CA: 55.3%
Jackson and Oceano are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 10.9%Lowest CA: 12% 17.2%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 60.5%Lowest CA: 55.9% 61.1%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than CA 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 20 minLowest 30% below CA 21 minHighest 28% below CA
Work from home 2.6%±2.1Lowest CA: 17.2% 16.3%±9.5Highest CA: 17.2%
Work in townworking residents 11.3%Highest 5.4%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 39.3 miHighest 12.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.11Highest 0.30Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Sacramento (5%)San Luis Obispo (18%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in OceanoFew work in Jackson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.7%Lowest 4.4%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 0.3 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.2 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3 3
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 52.1Lowest 116Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #270 of 574 in CA#566 of 574 in CA
School district Amador County ROP · Amador County UnifiedLucia Mar Unified
High school in town Argonaut HighNone in town
Students per teacherat that high school 19.1 —
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.

Oceano neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 1w

Perfect Day in Oceano

1 neighbor in Oceano can answer.

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Bordering Jackson

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Martell180 people

Towns like Jackson

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Placerville10,762 people · $473K homes
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Big Bear Lake5,041 people · $577K homes
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Calistoga5,111 people
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Fort Bragg7,032 people · $535K 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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