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Rio Dell vs Biggs

148 miles apart. The biggest differences: household income (2× in Biggs) and growth since 2010 (+14.8 pts in Biggs).

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Rio Dell, CAKnown for its schoolsCalifornia · 3,349 people
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Biggs, CAHomes around $339KCalifornia · 2,307 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.

Rio DellKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 28%of CA districts Housing$301K typical home61% below the CA typical home Health85% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Rio Dell →
BiggsHomes around $339K
Housing$339K typical home56% below the CA typical home HealthHealthier than 63%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Biggs →
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.

Household income2×
Households in Biggs earn more
Biggs $84,914Rio Dell $42,753
Growth since 2010+14.8 pts
Biggs has grown faster since 2010
Biggs +15.1%Rio Dell +0.3%
Rent+41%
Rent runs higher in Biggs
Biggs $1,474Rio Dell $1,042
Property tax bill+32%
Tax bills are bigger in Biggs
Biggs $2,161Rio Dell $1,637
Homeowners+14.4 pts renters
Rio Dell has more renters
Biggs 71.2%Rio Dell 56.8%
Jobs per worker+74%
Biggs is more of a job hub
Biggs 0.40Rio Dell 0.23
★ What stands out · 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
CRio DellSafer than 31% of U.S. towns –BiggsNot graded
Schools
CRio DellBetter than 28% of districts in the state B−BiggsBetter than 47% of districts in the state
Health
C−Rio DellHealthier than 15% of U.S. towns BBiggsHealthier than 63% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs $250 more a month in Biggs

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.

Rio Dell$1,720/mo
Typical home $301K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.54% · or rent about $1,042/mo · Housing →
Biggs$1,960/mo
Typical home $339K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.66% · or rent about $1,474/mo · Housing →

The difference: $250 a month, about $2,900 a year, between Biggs and Rio Dell.

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.

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
Rio DellBiggs
Snow a year1″0″
January low38°F38°F
July high73°F92°F
Growing season (days)264d293d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)100th58th
Outdoors & history
Rio DellBiggs
Trails0 mi0 mi
Conserved land0.4%1.1%
Settled19651903
Archive photos1512
Community
Rio DellBiggs
Library hours a week15 hrs9 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

148 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Rio DellCABiggsCA
Rio Dell ↔ Biggs148 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.

Rio DellBiggs
People
Population 3,349Highest 2,307Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +0.3%Lowest CA: +6.1% +15.1%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 35.2±7Highest 7% below CA 28.4±7.1Lowest 25% below CA
Rio Dell and Biggs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 26.5%±7.8Lowest CA: 22% 27.9%±6.1Highest CA: 22%
Biggs and Rio Dell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 15.7%±6.5Highest CA: 15.7% 12.2%±2.7Lowest CA: 15.7%
Rio Dell and Biggs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 10.7%Lowest CA: 37.1% 12.2%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.8%±3Lowest CA: 7.6% 7%±3.9Highest CA: 7.6%
Biggs and Rio Dell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $42,753±$14kLowest 57% below CA $84,914±$23kHighest 14% below CA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $301,700±$53kLowest 59% below CA $328,400±$20kHighest 55% below CA
Biggs and Rio Dell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,042±$127Lowest 49% below CA $1,474±$212Highest 28% below CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,637Lowest 68% below CA $2,161Highest 58% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 85.8%±18Highest CA: 55.3% 52.4%±20.7Lowest CA: 55.3%
Rio Dell and Biggs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 17.6%Highest CA: 12% 7.4%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 56.8%Lowest CA: 55.9% 71.2%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1977Highest 1 yr newer than CA 1975Lowest 1 yr older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 20 minLowest 31% below CA 24 minHighest 16% below CA
Work from home 14.2%±12.3Highest CA: 17.2% 4.1%±4.4Lowest CA: 17.2%
Rio Dell and Biggs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 6.5%Highest 2.6%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 19.8 miLowest 21.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.23Lowest 0.40Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Eureka (21%)Chico (12%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BiggsFew work in Rio Dell
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.4%Lowest 1.1%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 58.0Lowest 87.0Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #490 of 574 in CA—
School district Rio Dell ElementaryBiggs Unified
High school in town None in townBiggs High
Students per teacherat that high school — 12.4
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.

Rio Dell neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Rio Dell’s Town Square.

Biggs neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Biggs’s Town Square.

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Bordering Rio Dell

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Scotia405 people · $342K homes

Towns like Rio Dell

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Weed2,737 people · $260K homes
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Dos Palos5,765 people · $300K homes
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Portola2,441 people · $231K homes
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Holtville5,617 people · $310K homes

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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