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Ripon vs American Canyon

69 miles apart. The biggest differences: rent (+37% in American Canyon) and trails (+58% in Ripon).

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Ripon, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 16,201 people
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American Canyon, CAHomes around $729KCalifornia · 21,691 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.

RiponAn outdoors town
Outdoors#169 most trails in CA11 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves HealthHealthier than 74%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 19%of CA districts All about Ripon →
American CanyonHomes around $729K
Housing$729K typical home5% below the CA typical home HealthHealthier than 75%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors#202 most conserved land in CA6.7 miles of trails across 11 parks and preserves All about American Canyon →
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.

Rent+37%
Rent runs higher in American Canyon
American Canyon $2,537Ripon $1,851
Trails+58%
Ripon has more miles of trail
Ripon 10.6 miAmerican Canyon 6.7 mi
Homeowners+8.5 pts renters
Ripon has more renters
American Canyon 74.3%Ripon 65.8%
★ What stands out · Report cards

American Canyon places higher on 11 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.

Safety
BRiponSafer than 62% of U.S. towns CAmerican CanyonSafer than 34% of U.S. towns
Schools
C−RiponBetter than 19% of districts in the state B+American CanyonBetter than 67% of districts in the state
Health
B+RiponHealthier than 74% of U.S. towns B+American CanyonHealthier than 75% of U.S. towns
10Ripon
11American Canyon

Lists won, of 21 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Most new homesHousing · 438 towns #364#29 Highest graduation rateSchools · 720 towns #716#272 Lowest depressionHealth · 844 towns #568#99 Cheapest rentCost of living · 830 towns #386#666 Lowest obesityHealth · 844 towns #456#196 Most activeHealth · 844 towns #198#456 SafestSafety · 411 towns #53#175 Most trailsOutdoors · 677 towns #169#353

Left end = #1 in California. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Ripon’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $330 more a month in American Canyon

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.

Ripon$3,970/mo
Typical home $680K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.71% · or rent about $1,851/mo · Housing →
American Canyon$4,300/mo
Typical home $729K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.79% · or rent about $2,537/mo · Housing →

The difference: $330 a month, about $4,000 a year, between American Canyon and Ripon.

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
RiponAmerican Canyon
Snow a year0″0″
January low39°F40°F
July high95°F83°F
Growing season (days)305d299d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)63rd87th
Outdoors & history
RiponAmerican Canyon
Trails11 mi7 mi
Conserved land9.7%12.2%
Settled19451992
Archive photos5—
Community
RiponAmerican Canyon
Library hours a week42 hrs46 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

69 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

RiponCAAmerican CanyonCA
Ripon ↔ American Canyon69 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.

RiponAmerican Canyon
People
Population 16,201Lowest 21,691Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +12%Lowest CA: +6.1% +12.2%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 40.1±1.7Highest 6% above CA 36.8±2.4Lowest about the CA average
Ripon and American Canyon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 26.1%±3.5Highest CA: 22% 25%±2.2Lowest CA: 22%
Ripon and American Canyon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 17.1%±2.6Highest CA: 15.7% 13.7%±1.4Lowest CA: 15.7%
Ripon and American Canyon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 29.4%Lowest CA: 37.1% 32.7%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.8%±2.5Lowest CA: 7.6% 8.7%±1.3Highest CA: 7.6%
American Canyon and Ripon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $133,380±$25kHighest 35% above CA $121,700±$12kLowest 23% above CA
Ripon and American Canyon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $704,800±$35kHighest 4% below CA $692,600±$32kLowest 6% below CA
Ripon and American Canyon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,851±$150Lowest 9% below CA $2,537±$242Highest 25% above CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $5,034Lowest about the CA average $5,465Highest 7% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 54.7%±12Lowest CA: 55.3% 62.4%±12.5Highest CA: 55.3%
American Canyon and Ripon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 5.4%Lowest CA: 12% 9.3%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 65.8%Lowest CA: 55.9% 74.3%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1995Lowest 19 yrs newer than CA 1998Highest 22 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minLowest 7% below CA 30 minHighest 3% above CA
Work from home 9.3%±2.5Lowest CA: 17.2% 11.7%±2Highest CA: 17.2%
American Canyon and Ripon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 11.1%Highest 5.5%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 19.8 miHighest 18.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.62Highest 0.47Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Modesto (11%)Napa (12%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in American CanyonFew work in Ripon
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 9.7%Lowest 12.2%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 10.6 miHighest 6.7 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.9 miHighest 1.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 8Lowest 11Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 107Highest 87.1Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #290 of 574 in CA—
School district Ripon UnifiedNapa Valley Unified
High school in town Ripon HighAmerican Canyon High
Students per teacherat that high school 20.2Lowest 23.5Highest
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.

Ripon neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ripon’s Town Square.

American Canyon neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to American Canyon’s Town Square.

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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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