Guest, Sign inJoin
Compare towns

Patterson vs Sanger

103 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (+77% in Patterson) and trails (3.4× in Patterson).

×
Patterson, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 24,693 people
×
Sanger, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 26,699 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 $640 more a month in Patterson

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.

Patterson$3,050/mo
Typical home $502K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.99% · or rent about $1,655/mo · Housing →
Sanger$2,410/mo
Typical home $413K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.69% · or rent about $1,209/mo · Housing →

The difference: $640 a month, about $7,700 a year, between Patterson and Sanger.

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

Patterson places higher on 15 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
PattersonSanger
Snow a year0″0″
January low42°F41°F
July high93°F98°F
Growing season (days)351d337d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)60th37th
Outdoors & history
PattersonSanger
Trails3 mi1 mi
Conserved land1.8%1.7%
Settled19091888
National Register places21
Archive photos712
Famous people born here312
Community
PattersonSanger
Library hours a week30 hrs52 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

103 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Patterson ↔ Sanger103 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.

PattersonSanger
People
Population 24,693Lowest 26,699Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +16.5%Highest CA: +6.1% +9.7%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 30.9±1.6 18% below CA 30.9±1.9 18% below CA
Kids under 18 32.7%±3.4Highest CA: 22% 29.5%±2.9Lowest CA: 22%
Patterson and Sanger are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 10.2%±1.5Lowest CA: 15.7% 10.6%±1.5Highest CA: 15.7%
Sanger and Patterson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 13.6%Highest CA: 37.1% 13.5%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.2%±1.3Lowest CA: 7.6% 6.7%±1.5Highest CA: 7.6%
Sanger and Patterson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $93,650±$15kHighest 6% below CA $77,500±$9kLowest 22% below CA
Patterson and Sanger are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $450,200±$20kHighest 39% below CA $364,800±$12kLowest 50% below CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,655±$250Highest 19% below CA $1,209±$92Lowest 41% below CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $4,465Highest 13% below CA $2,520Lowest 51% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 40.6%±10.6Lowest CA: 55.3% 60%±8.7Highest CA: 55.3%
Below poverty line 9%Lowest CA: 12% 15.8%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 71.3%Highest CA: 55.9% 64.4%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 2000Highest 24 yrs newer than CA 1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 42 minHighest 45% above CA 24 minLowest 18% below CA
Work from home 11.3%±4.3Highest CA: 17.2% 5.4%±1.6Lowest CA: 17.2%
Work in townworking residents 15.7%Highest 14.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 35.3 miHighest 12.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.74 0.74
Top workplaceoutside town Modesto (6%)Fresno (33%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in SangerFew work in Patterson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.8%Highest 1.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 3.4 miHighest 1.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miHighest 0.2 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 22Highest 12Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 115Lowest 120Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #184 of 574 in CA#322 of 574 in CA
School district Patterson Joint UnifiedSanger Unified
High school in town Patterson HighSanger High
Students per teacherat that high school 20.8Lowest 23.1Highest
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.

Patterson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Patterson’s Town Square.

Sanger neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sanger’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Patterson and Sanger

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

Towns like Patterson

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.

Post to Patterson

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in