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Lompoc vs Paramount

142 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (2.4× in Lompoc) and property tax bill (+34% in Paramount).

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Lompoc, CAKnown for its schoolsCalifornia · 43,646 people
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Paramount, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 52,050 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 · Report cards

Lompoc places higher on 14 of 23 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.

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $360 more a month in Paramount

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.

Lompoc$3,410/mo
Typical home $595K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.58% · or rent about $1,589/mo · Housing →
Paramount$3,760/mo
Typical home $647K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.69% · or rent about $1,875/mo · Housing →

The difference: $360 a month, about $4,300 a year, between Paramount and Lompoc.

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.

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
LompocParamount
Snow a year0″0″
January low43°F—
July high73°F—
Growing season (days)335d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)83rd87th
Outdoors & history
LompocParamount
Trails9 mi4 mi
Conserved land3.1%2.5%
Settled18881957
National Register places3—
Archive photos231
Famous people born here3111
Community
LompocParamount
Library hours a week44 hrs40 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

142 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Lompoc ↔ Paramount142 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.

LompocParamount
People
Population 43,646Lowest 52,050Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +4.7%Highest CA: +6.1% -0.7%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 35.1±1.4Highest 7% below CA 33.4±1.2Lowest 12% below CA
Lompoc and Paramount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 26.1%±2.1Highest CA: 22% 25.1%±1.9Lowest CA: 22%
Lompoc and Paramount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 13%±1.2Highest CA: 15.7% 10.1%±1Lowest CA: 15.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 13.7%Lowest CA: 37.1% 14.9%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.4%±1Lowest CA: 7.6% 8%±1Highest CA: 7.6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $72,004±$7kLowest 27% below CA $75,250±$6kHighest 24% below CA
Paramount and Lompoc are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $472,900±$13kLowest 36% below CA $533,700±$26kHighest 27% below CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,589±$63Lowest 22% below CA $1,875±$55Highest 8% below CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,737Lowest 47% below CA $3,681Highest 28% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 54%±6.2Lowest CA: 55.3% 58.7%±4.9Highest CA: 55.3%
Paramount and Lompoc are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 17.3%Highest CA: 12% 12.6%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 49%Highest CA: 55.9% 43%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1976Highest same as CA 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 28 minLowest 4% below CA 28 minHighest about the CA average
Work from home 7.1%±1.6Lowest CA: 17.2% 7.3%±1.2Highest CA: 17.2%
Paramount and Lompoc are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 22.3%Highest 7.5%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 22.3 miHighest 10.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.45Lowest 0.77Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Santa Barbara (9%)Los Angeles (17%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ParamountFew work in Lompoc
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 3.1%Highest 2.5%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 8.6 miHighest 3.6 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.7 miLowest 0.8 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 11Highest 10Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 72.0Lowest 111Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #393 of 574 in CA#369 of 574 in CA
School district Lompoc UnifiedParamount Unified
High school in town Lompoc HighParamount High
Students per teacherat that high school 19.5Highest 19.3Lowest
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.

Lompoc neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lompoc’s Town Square.

Paramount neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Paramount’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Lompoc

Towns like Lompoc

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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