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Point Arena vs Colma

109 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (19× in Point Arena) and home values (2.4× in Colma).

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Point Arena, CAA history townCalifornia · 789 people
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Colma, CAOne of the safest townsCalifornia · 1,636 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.

Point ArenaA history town
HistorySettled in 190812 places on the National Register SchoolsBetter than 29%of CA districts Housing$562K typical home27% below the CA typical home All about Point Arena →
ColmaOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 0%of U.S. towns we grade Work4,174 jobsbased in Colma, a regional job hub Housing$1.07M typical home41% above the CA typical home All about Colma →
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.

Trails19×
Point Arena has more miles of trail
Point Arena 3.8 miColma 0.2 mi
Home values2.4×
Homes cost more in Colma
Colma $1,062,000Point Arena $436,000
Property tax bill2.1×
Tax bills are bigger in Colma
Colma $7,830Point Arena $3,667
Jobs per worker4.1×
Colma is more of a job hub
Colma 6.08Point Arena 1.48
Street grid2.6×
Colma has the more walkable street grid
Colma 25.0Point Arena 9.5
Average commute9 min
Point Arena has the shorter commute
Colma 28 minPoint Arena 19 min
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $2,960 more a month in Colma

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.

Point Arena$3,340/mo
Typical home $562K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.84% · or rent about $1,917/mo · Housing →
Colma$6,300/mo
Typical home $1.07M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.74% · or rent about $2,303/mo · Housing →

The difference: $2,960 a month, about $35,500 a year, between Colma and Point Arena.

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
–Point ArenaNot graded D−ColmaSafer than 0% of U.S. towns
Schools
CPoint ArenaBetter than 29% of districts in the state –ColmaNot graded
Health
–Point ArenaNot graded B+ColmaHealthier than 68% 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
Point ArenaColma
Snow a year—0″
January low—45°F
July high—69°F
Growing season (days)—365d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)83rd91st
Outdoors & history
Point ArenaColma
Trails4 mi0 mi
Conserved land15.1%0.1%
Settled19081924
National Register places12—
Archive photos1212
Community
Point ArenaColma
Library hours a week39 hrs—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined01

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

109 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Point ArenaCAColmaCA
Point Arena ↔ Colma109 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.

Point ArenaColma
People
Population 789Lowest 1,636Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — -15.9% CA: +6.1%
Median age 36.5±5.4Lowest 4% below CA 38.1±4.8Highest about the CA average
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 28.4%±6.5Highest CA: 22% 22.6%±4.2Lowest CA: 22%
Point Arena and Colma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 11.9%±5.7Lowest CA: 15.7% 15.5%±2.8Highest CA: 15.7%
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 29.9%Highest CA: 37.1% 26.7%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0%±2.5Lowest CA: 7.6% 3.5%±1.6Highest CA: 7.6%
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $108,095±$49kLowest 9% above CA $148,295±$23kHighest 50% above CA
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $436,000±$21kLowest 41% below CA $1,062,000±$51kHighest 45% above CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,917±$954Lowest 6% below CA $2,303±$414Highest 13% above CA
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,667Lowest 28% below CA $7,830Highest 53% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 41.9%±13.8Lowest CA: 55.3% 45.2%±11.4Highest CA: 55.3%
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 10.1%Highest CA: 12% 6.7%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 51.7%Lowest CA: 55.9% 53.3%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1976Lowest same as CA 1990Highest 14 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 19 minLowest 33% below CA 28 minHighest about the CA average
Work from home 14.3%±8Lowest CA: 17.2% 21.4%±9Highest CA: 17.2%
Colma and Point Arena are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 11.3%Highest 4.2%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 19.8 miHighest 8.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.48Lowest 6.08Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Manchester (6%)San Francisco (33%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ColmaFew work in Point Arena
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 15.1%Highest 0.1%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 3.8 miHighest 0.2 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 2.7 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 3Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 9.5Lowest 25.0Highest
Schools
School district Arena Union Elementary · Point Arena Joint Union High—
High school in town Point Arena High—
Students per teacherat that high school 10.5 —
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.

Point Arena neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Point Arena’s Town Square.

Colma neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 5d

Colma's Hidden Viewpoints

1 neighbor in Colma can answer.

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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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