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Compare towns

Mariposa vs Ferndale

314 miles apart. The biggest differences: home values (2× in Ferndale) and growth since 2010 (+31.8 pts in Ferndale).

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Mariposa, CAA regional job hubCalifornia · 1,137 people
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Ferndale, CAA history townCalifornia · 1,552 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.

MariposaA regional job hub
Work2,510 jobsbased in Mariposa, a regional job hub Housing$391K typical home49% below the CA typical home All about Mariposa →
FerndaleA history town
HistorySettled in 18937 places on the National Register Housing$498K typical home35% below the CA typical home SchoolsBetter than 32%of CA districts All about Ferndale →
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.

Home values2×
Homes cost more in Ferndale
Ferndale $542,000Mariposa $270,900
Growth since 2010+31.8 pts
Ferndale has grown faster since 2010
Ferndale +2%Mariposa -29.8%
Jobs per worker4.1×
Mariposa is more of a job hub
Mariposa 4.51Ferndale 1.11
Rent+73%
Rent runs higher in Ferndale
Ferndale $1,028Mariposa $593
Trails2.8×
Ferndale has more miles of trail
Ferndale 3.6 miMariposa 1.3 mi
Street grid2×
Ferndale has the more walkable street grid
Ferndale 59.0Mariposa 29.6
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $210 more a month in Ferndale

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.

Mariposa$2,640/mo
Typical home $391K (Zillow) · tax rate est. 1.8% · or rent about $593/mo · Housing →
Ferndale$2,850/mo
Typical home $498K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.58% · or rent about $1,028/mo · Housing →

The difference: $210 a month, about $2,600 a year, between Ferndale and Mariposa.

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.

Safety
–MariposaNot graded B−FerndaleSafer than 51% of U.S. towns
Schools
B−MariposaBetter than 50% of districts in the state CFerndaleBetter than 32% of districts in the state
Health
B−MariposaHealthier than 50% of U.S. towns C+FerndaleHealthier than 43% of U.S. towns
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
MariposaFerndale
Snow a year—0″
January low—41°F
July high—63°F
Growing season (days)—293d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)90th98th
Outdoors & history
MariposaFerndale
Trails1 mi4 mi
Conserved land7%15.2%
Settled—1893
National Register places47
Archive photos—14
Famous people born here—7
Community
MariposaFerndale
Library hours a week48 hrs32 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

314 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

MariposaCAFerndaleCA
Mariposa ↔ Ferndale314 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.

MariposaFerndale
People
Population 1,137Lowest 1,552Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -29.8%Lowest CA: +6.1% +2%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 59±11.8Lowest 56% above CA 61.2±3.5Highest 61% above CA
Ferndale and Mariposa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 12.9%±7Highest CA: 22% 7.7%±2.9Lowest CA: 22%
Mariposa and Ferndale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 41.6%±10.1Highest CA: 15.7% 36%±4.1Lowest CA: 15.7%
Mariposa and Ferndale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 38%Highest CA: 37.1% 32.1%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.2%±3.1Lowest CA: 7.6% 3.4%±3Highest CA: 7.6%
Ferndale and Mariposa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $40,772±$20kLowest 59% below CA $63,142±$14kHighest 36% below CA
Ferndale and Mariposa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $270,900±$110kLowest 63% below CA $542,000±$86kHighest 26% below CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $593±$131Lowest 71% below CA $1,028±$100Highest 50% below CA
Property taxmedian, yearly — $3,130 39% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 58.1%±16.2Highest CA: 55.3% 43.5%±18.9Lowest CA: 55.3%
Mariposa and Ferndale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 37.1%Highest CA: 12% 13%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 50.6%Lowest CA: 55.9% 60.6%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1975Highest 1 yr older than CA 1953Lowest 23 yrs older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 35 minHighest 21% above CA 26 minLowest 8% below CA
Work from home 8%±10Lowest CA: 17.2% 16%±9.7Highest CA: 17.2%
Ferndale and Mariposa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 19.9%Highest 13.6%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 43.3 miHighest 15.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 4.51Highest 1.11Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Yosemite Valley (6%)Eureka (19%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in FerndaleFew work in Mariposa
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 7%Lowest 15.2%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 1.3 miLowest 3.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miLowest 3.0 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 2Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 29.6Lowest 59.0Highest
Schools
School district Mariposa County UnifiedFerndale Unified
High school in town Mariposa County HighFerndale High
Students per teacherat that high school 16.3Highest 11.3Lowest
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.

Mariposa neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Mariposa’s Town Square.

Ferndale neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ferndale’s Town Square.

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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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