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Compare towns

Paradise vs Jackson

107 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+89.7 pts in Jackson) and work from home (+16 pts in Paradise).

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Paradise, CAHomes around $335KCalifornia · 7,392 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 $550 more a month in Jackson

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.

Paradise$1,950/mo
Typical home $335K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.69% · or rent about $1,241/mo · Housing →
Jackson$2,500/mo
Typical home $435K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.59% · or rent about $1,429/mo · Housing →

The difference: $550 a month, about $6,600 a year, between Jackson and Paradise.

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 12 of 21 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
ParadiseJackson
Snow a year0″0″
January low41°F40°F
July high91°F95°F
Growing season (days)313d332d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)35th81st
Outdoors & history
ParadiseJackson
Trails2 mi0 mi
Conserved land0.9%0.7%
Settled—1848
National Register places—9
Archive photos912
Famous people born here5—
Community
ParadiseJackson
Library hours a week14 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

107 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Paradise ↔ Jackson107 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.

ParadiseJackson
People
Population 7,392Highest 5,048Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -81.8%Lowest CA: +6.1% +7.9%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 57.4±4Highest 51% above CA 50.2±6.1Lowest 32% above CA
Paradise and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 15.3%±3.3Lowest CA: 22% 16.9%±4.4Highest CA: 22%
Jackson and Paradise are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 40.9%±8.1Highest CA: 15.7% 38%±7.1Lowest CA: 15.7%
Paradise and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 31.9%Highest CA: 37.1% 23.6%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.2%±1.9Highest CA: 7.6% 3.6%±2.1Lowest CA: 7.6%
Paradise and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $67,687±$27kLowest 32% below CA $70,239±$18kHighest 29% below CA
Jackson and Paradise are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $416,000±$63kLowest 43% below CA $442,700±$49kHighest 40% below CA
Jackson and Paradise are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,241±$142Lowest 39% below CA $1,429±$151Highest 30% below CA
Jackson and Paradise are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,855Highest 44% below CA $2,632Lowest 49% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 51.2%±6.2Lowest CA: 55.3% 58.7%±20.3Highest CA: 55.3%
Jackson and Paradise are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 18.2%Highest CA: 12% 10.9%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 74.8%Highest CA: 55.9% 60.5%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1992Highest 16 yrs newer than CA 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 24 minHighest 15% below CA 20 minLowest 30% below CA
Work from home 18.6%±9.7Highest CA: 17.2% 2.6%±2.1Lowest CA: 17.2%
Work in townworking residents 17.7%Highest 11.3%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 13.8 miLowest 39.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.95Lowest 1.11Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Chico (33%)Sacramento (5%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in JacksonFew work in Paradise
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.9%Highest 0.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 2.0 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 5Highest 3Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 59.4Highest 52.1Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #274 of 574 in CA#270 of 574 in CA
School district Paradise UnifiedAmador County ROP · Amador County Unified
High school in town Paradise Senior HighArgonaut High
Students per teacherat that high school 18.7Lowest 19.1Highest
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.

Paradise neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Paradise’s Town Square.

Jackson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jackson’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Paradise and Jackson

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Paradise

Towns like Paradise

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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