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Compare towns

Martinez vs Pacifica

34 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (5.1× in Martinez) and home values (+45% in Pacifica).

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Martinez, CAOne of the healthiest townsCalifornia · 36,903 people
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Pacifica, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 37,261 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 $2,830 more a month in Pacifica

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.

Martinez$4,410/mo
Typical home $754K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.73% · or rent about $2,353/mo · Housing →
Pacifica$7,250/mo
Typical home $1.26M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.63% · or rent about $3,098/mo · Housing →

The difference: $2,830 a month, about $34,000 a year, between Pacifica and Martinez.

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

Pacifica places higher on 13 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.

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
MartinezPacifica
Snow a year0″0″
January low42°F45°F
July high88°F69°F
Growing season (days)346d365d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)87th89th
Outdoors & history
MartinezPacifica
Conserved land13.8%42.7%
Settled1849—
National Register places92
Archive photos1812
Famous people born here366
Community
MartinezPacifica
Library hours a week—57 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

34 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Martinez ↔ Pacifica34 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.

MartinezPacifica
People
Population 36,903Lowest 37,261Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +4.1%Highest CA: +6.1% +3.8%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 42.6±1.1Lowest 12% above CA 44.6±1.4Highest 18% above CA
Pacifica and Martinez are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 19.8%±2Highest CA: 22% 18.2%±1.7Lowest CA: 22%
Martinez and Pacifica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 18.9%±1.5Lowest CA: 15.7% 20.4%±1.7Highest CA: 15.7%
Pacifica and Martinez are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 46.7%Lowest CA: 37.1% 48.9%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.7%±0.9Lowest CA: 7.6% 6.1%±1.2Highest CA: 7.6%
Pacifica and Martinez are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $127,355±$8kLowest 28% above CA $160,523±$13kHighest 62% above CA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $859,800±$16kLowest 17% above CA $1,249,800±$36kHighest 70% above CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,353±$87Lowest 16% above CA $3,098±$184Highest 52% above CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $6,291Lowest 23% above CA $7,933Highest 55% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 44.6%±6.3Lowest CA: 55.3% 51.4%±7.1Highest CA: 55.3%
Pacifica and Martinez are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 6.3%Highest CA: 12% 5.8%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 70.8%Highest CA: 55.9% 67.7%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1977Highest 1 yr newer than CA 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 28 minHighest about the CA average 27 minLowest 5% below CA
Work from home 22.3%±3.4Lowest CA: 17.2% 23.6%±2.5Highest CA: 17.2%
Pacifica and Martinez are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 11.5%Highest 8.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 14.8 miHighest 12.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.39Highest 0.27Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town San Francisco (11%)San Francisco (33%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in PacificaFew work in Martinez
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 13.8%Lowest 42.7%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 38.2 miLowest 42.1 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 2.8 miLowest 3.4 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 19Highest 17Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 83.7Highest 57.7Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #130 of 574 in CA#75 of 574 in CA
School district Martinez Unified · Mt. Diablo UnifiedJefferson Union High · Pacifica
High school in town Alhambra Senior HighTerra Nova High
Students per teacherat that high school 21.1Highest 20.0Lowest
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.

Martinez neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Martinez’s Town Square.

Pacifica neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Pacifica’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Martinez and Pacifica

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Bordering Martinez

Towns like Martinez

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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