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Live Oak vs Fowler

213 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (3.1× in Fowler) and growth since 2010 (+11.8 pts in Fowler).

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Live Oak, CAHomes around $390KCalifornia · 9,347 people
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Fowler, CAKnown for its schoolsCalifornia · 7,094 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 $530 more a month in Fowler

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.

Live Oak$2,240/mo
Typical home $390K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.59% · or rent about $1,014/mo · Housing →
Fowler$2,770/mo
Typical home $471K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.77% · or rent about $1,218/mo · Housing →

The difference: $530 a month, about $6,400 a year, between Fowler and Live Oak.

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.

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
Live OakFowler
Snow a year0″0″
January low38°F41°F
July high92°F98°F
Growing season (days)293d337d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)36th44th
Outdoors & history
Live OakFowler
Trails1 mi1 mi
Conserved land3.6%0.5%
Settled19471908
National Register places1—
Archive photos62
Community
Live OakFowler
Library hours a week12 hrs39 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined11

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

213 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Live Oak ↔ Fowler213 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.

Live OakFowler
People
Population 9,347Highest 7,094Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +8.5%Lowest CA: +6.1% +20.3%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 35.4±3.5Highest 7% below CA 33.5±5.1Lowest 12% below CA
Live Oak and Fowler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 29.2%±5.1Lowest CA: 22% 30.7%±4.9Highest CA: 22%
Fowler and Live Oak are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 15%±3Highest CA: 15.7% 11%±2.8Lowest CA: 15.7%
Live Oak and Fowler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 15.7%Lowest CA: 37.1% 25.5%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.7%±1.7Lowest CA: 7.6% 12.6%±3.3Highest CA: 7.6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $73,571±$14kHighest 26% below CA $66,983±$21kLowest 32% below CA
Live Oak and Fowler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $350,700±$25kLowest 52% below CA $379,800±$26kHighest 48% below CA
Fowler and Live Oak are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,014±$393Lowest 50% below CA $1,218±$124Highest 40% below CA
Fowler and Live Oak are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,068Lowest 60% below CA $2,919Highest 43% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 51.5%±13.7Highest CA: 55.3% 45.7%±15.2Lowest CA: 55.3%
Live Oak and Fowler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 17.4%Lowest CA: 12% 19.3%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 69.1%Highest CA: 55.9% 62.7%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1995Highest 19 yrs newer than CA 1990Lowest 14 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 28 minHighest about the CA average 22 minLowest 24% below CA
Work from home 10.5%±5.8Highest CA: 17.2% 5.5%±3.4Lowest CA: 17.2%
Live Oak and Fowler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 7.2%Lowest 8.3%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 32.8 miHighest 12.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.33Lowest 1.01Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Yuba City (16%)Fresno (35%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in FowlerFew work in Live Oak
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 3.6%Highest 0.5%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 1.0 miHighest 0.6 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miHighest 0.2 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Highest 2Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 79.3Lowest 107Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #517 of 574 in CA#247 of 574 in CA
School district Live Oak UnifiedFowler Unified
High school in town Live Oak HighFowler High
Students per teacherat that high school 19.5Lowest 20.1Highest
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.

Live Oak neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 6d

Discovering Hidden Gems

1 neighbor in Live Oak can answer.

Fowler neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 5d

Perfect Day in Fowler

1 neighbor in Fowler can answer.

Add a town

Set another town beside Live Oak and Fowler

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Towns like Live Oak

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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