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Compare towns

Oceano vs Jackson

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

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 $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.

Oceano$3,850/mo
Typical home $678K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.53% · or rent about $1,584/mo · Housing →
Jackson$2,500/mo
Typical home $435K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.59% · or rent about $1,429/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.

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
OceanoJackson
Snow a year0″0″
January low46°F40°F
July high67°F95°F
Growing season (days)365d332d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)82nd81st
Outdoors & history
OceanoJackson
Trails0 mi0 mi
Conserved land4.4%0.7%
Settled—1848
National Register places19
Archive photos1212
Community
OceanoJackson
Library hours a week23 hrs40 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined10

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.

Oceano ↔ Jackson225 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.

OceanoJackson
People
Population 7,128Highest 5,048Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.4%Lowest CA: +6.1% +7.9%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 46.4±3.4Lowest 22% above CA 50.2±6.1Highest 32% 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 19.9%±3.2Highest CA: 22% 16.9%±4.4Lowest CA: 22%
Oceano and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 27.4%±6.4Lowest CA: 15.7% 38%±7.1Highest 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+ 21.2%Lowest CA: 37.1% 23.6%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.9%±2.3Highest CA: 7.6% 3.6%±2.1Lowest 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 $71,598±$14kHighest 28% below CA $70,239±$18kLowest 29% 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 $556,100±$80kHighest 24% below CA $442,700±$49kLowest 40% 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 $1,584±$628Highest 22% below CA $1,429±$151Lowest 30% 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 $2,928Highest 43% below CA $2,632Lowest 49% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 44%±3Lowest CA: 55.3% 58.7%±20.3Highest 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 17.2%Highest CA: 12% 10.9%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 61.1%Highest CA: 55.9% 60.5%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than CA 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 21 minHighest 28% below CA 20 minLowest 30% below CA
Work from home 16.3%±9.5Highest CA: 17.2% 2.6%±2.1Lowest CA: 17.2%
Work in townworking residents 5.4%Lowest 11.3%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 12.3 miLowest 39.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.30Lowest 1.11Highest
Top workplaceoutside town San Luis Obispo (18%)Sacramento (5%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in JacksonFew work in Oceano
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 4.4%Highest 0.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.3 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3 3
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 116Highest 52.1Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #566 of 574 in CA#270 of 574 in CA
School district Lucia Mar UnifiedAmador County ROP · Amador County Unified
High school in town None in townArgonaut High
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.

Oceano neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 1w

Perfect Day in Oceano

1 neighbor in Oceano can answer.

Jackson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jackson’s Town Square.

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Bordering Oceano

Towns like Oceano

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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