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San Pablo vs Paramount

365 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (18× in Paramount) and growth since 2010 (+11 pts in San Pablo).

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San Pablo, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 31,720 people
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Paramount, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 52,050 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.

San PabloAn outdoors town
Outdoors#5 most walkable in CA0.2 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves Health67% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SafetySafer than 12%of U.S. towns we grade All about San Pablo →
ParamountAn outdoors town
Outdoors#183 most walkable in CA3.6 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves Health71% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SafetySafer than 9%of U.S. towns we grade All about Paramount →
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.

Trails18×
Paramount has more miles of trail
Paramount 3.6 miSan Pablo 0.2 mi
Growth since 2010+11 pts
San Pablo has grown faster since 2010
San Pablo +10.3%Paramount -0.7%
Street grid+79%
San Pablo has the more walkable street grid
San Pablo 199Paramount 111
Jobs per worker2×
Paramount is more of a job hub
Paramount 0.77San Pablo 0.39
Property tax bill+21%
Tax bills are bigger in San Pablo
San Pablo $4,461Paramount $3,681
★ What stands out · Report cards

San Pablo 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
DSan PabloSafer than 12% of U.S. towns DParamountSafer than 9% of U.S. towns
Schools
A−San PabloBetter than 75% of districts in the state C+ParamountBetter than 36% of districts in the state
Health
CSan PabloHealthier than 33% of U.S. towns CParamountHealthier than 29% of U.S. towns
11San Pablo
9Paramount

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

Fastest growingGrowth · 816 towns #183#667 Highest graduation rateSchools · 720 towns #666#272 Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 844 towns #434#166 Shortest commuteGetting around · 843 towns #648#441 Most walkableOutdoors · 841 towns #5#183 Rent easiest to affordCost of living · 422 towns #227#283 Lowest property taxCost of living · 835 towns #404#309 Lowest obesityHealth · 844 towns #594#502

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

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $480 more a month in Paramount

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.

San Pablo$3,290/mo
Typical home $555K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.81% · or rent about $2,018/mo · Housing →
Paramount$3,760/mo
Typical home $647K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.69% · or rent about $1,875/mo · Housing →

The difference: $480 a month, about $5,700 a year, between Paramount and San Pablo.

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
San PabloParamount
Snow a year0″0″
January low43°F—
July high74°F—
Growing season (days)365d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)95th87th
Outdoors & history
San PabloParamount
Trails0 mi4 mi
Conserved land1.7%2.5%
Settled—1957
Archive photos341
Famous people born here1111
Community
San PabloParamount
Library hours a week52 hrs40 hrs
Colleges in town1—
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

365 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

San PabloCAParamountCA
San Pablo ↔ Paramount365 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.

San PabloParamount
People
Population 31,720Lowest 52,050Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +10.3%Highest CA: +6.1% -0.7%Lowest CA: +6.1%
Median age 34.6±1.6Highest 9% below CA 33.4±1.2Lowest 12% below CA
San Pablo and Paramount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 25.4%±2.6Highest CA: 22% 25.1%±1.9Lowest CA: 22%
San Pablo and Paramount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 11.5%±1.4Highest CA: 15.7% 10.1%±1Lowest CA: 15.7%
San Pablo and Paramount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 16.8%Highest CA: 37.1% 14.9%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.2%±1.3Lowest CA: 7.6% 8%±1Highest CA: 7.6%
Paramount and San Pablo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $79,478±$3kHighest 20% below CA $75,250±$6kLowest 24% below CA
San Pablo and Paramount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $551,700±$25kHighest 25% below CA $533,700±$26kLowest 27% below CA
San Pablo and Paramount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,018±$118Highest about the CA average $1,875±$55Lowest 8% below CA
San Pablo and Paramount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $4,461Highest 13% below CA $3,681Lowest 28% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 56.4%±8.2Lowest CA: 55.3% 58.7%±4.9Highest CA: 55.3%
Paramount and San Pablo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 12.6% CA: 12% 12.6% CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 42%Lowest CA: 55.9% 43%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than CA 1971Highest 5 yrs older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 32 minHighest 13% above CA 28 minLowest about the CA average
Work from home 8.9%±1.9Highest CA: 17.2% 7.3%±1.2Lowest CA: 17.2%
San Pablo and Paramount are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 5.4%Lowest 7.5%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 12.8 miHighest 10.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.39Lowest 0.77Highest
Top workplaceoutside town San Francisco (16%)Los Angeles (17%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ParamountFew work in San Pablo
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.7%Lowest 2.5%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.2 miLowest 3.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.8 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 10Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 199Highest 111Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#369 of 574 in CA
School district West Contra Costa UnifiedParamount Unified
High school in town None in townParamount High
Students per teacherat that high school — 19.3
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.

San Pablo neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to San Pablo’s Town Square.

Paramount neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Paramount’s Town Square.

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Bordering San Pablo

+ Compare
El Sobrante16,294 people · $759K homes
R
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Rollingwood3,627 people · $600K homes
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Richmond115,505 people · $668K homes

Towns like San Pablo

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Lawndale30,781 people · $782K homes
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Lompoc43,646 people · $473K homes
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Watsonville51,712 people · $686K homes
D
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Desert Hot Springs33,200 people · $355K 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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