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

A−WheatlandSafer than 84% of U.S. towns C+ColusaSafer than 35% of U.S. towns

Schools

BWheatlandBetter than 61% of districts in the state B−ColusaBetter than 45% of districts in the state

Health

B−WheatlandHealthier than 51% of U.S. towns CColusaHealthier than 28% of U.S. towns

12Wheatland

8Colusa

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

Most conserved landOutdoors · 777 towns #741#180 Shortest commuteGetting around · 843 towns #642#77 SafestSafety · 411 towns #4#173 Most remote workersWork · 801 towns #432#733 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 844 towns #328#645 Most walkableOutdoors · 841 towns #791#537 Highest graduation rateSchools · 720 towns #12#211 Most activeHealth · 844 towns #410#624

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

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $550 more a month in Wheatland

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.

Down paymentRate%

Wheatland$2,680/mo

Typical home $456K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.78% · or rent about $1,264/mo · Housing →

Colusa$2,140/mo

Typical home $372K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.59% · or rent about $1,132/mo · Housing →

The difference: $550 a month, about $6,600 a year, between Wheatland and Colusa.

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

WheatlandColusa

Snow a year0″0″

January low—38°F

July high—92°F

Growing season (days)—293d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)64th 56th

Outdoors & history

WheatlandColusa

Trails16 mi 7 mi

Conserved land0.3%13.5%

Settled—1850

National Register places1 3

Archive photos3 6

Famous people born here—8

Community

WheatlandColusa

Library hours a week—40 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

35 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

WheatlandCA ColusaCA

Wheatland ↔ Colusa35 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.

Only big differences vs California average

WheatlandColusa

People

Population 3,876Lowest 6,505Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +7.4% CA: +6.1% +7.4% CA: +6.1%

Median age 38.3±7.7Highest about the CA average 38.1±3.7Lowest about the CA average

Wheatland and Colusa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 28.6%±7Lowest CA: 22% 30.2%±4.7Highest CA: 22%

Colusa and Wheatland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 15.8%±4.8Lowest CA: 15.7% 17.4%±3.3Highest CA: 15.7%

Colusa and Wheatland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 21.6%Highest CA: 37.1% 15.8%Lowest CA: 37.1%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.1%±3.3Highest CA: 7.6% 3.6%±1.6Lowest CA: 7.6%

Wheatland and Colusa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $83,452±$21kHighest 16% below CA $71,250±$11kLowest 28% below CA

Wheatland and Colusa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $429,200±$25kHighest 42% below CA $375,000±$29kLowest 49% below CA

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,264±$439Highest 38% below CA $1,132±$74Lowest 44% below CA

Wheatland and Colusa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $3,346Highest 35% below CA $2,210Lowest 57% below CA

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 37.2%±13.9Lowest CA: 55.3% 68.4%±14.9Highest CA: 55.3%

Below poverty line 11.2%Lowest CA: 12% 18.1%Highest CA: 12%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 63.5%Highest CA: 55.9% 59.9%Lowest CA: 55.9%

Typical home builtmedian year 1996Highest 20 yrs newer than CA 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than CA

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 32 minHighest 12% above CA 20 minLowest 31% below CA

Work from home 12.3%±9.3Highest CA: 17.2% 4%±3Lowest CA: 17.2%

Wheatland and Colusa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 6.3%Lowest 25.2%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.3 miHighest 13.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.45Lowest 0.93Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Sacramento (9%)Williams (7%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ColusaFew work in Wheatland

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.3%Lowest 13.5%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 15.6 miHighest 7.1 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.9 miHighest 1.7 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 9Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 13.8Lowest 52.2Highest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #208 of 574 in CA #248 of 574 in CA

School district Wheatland · Wheatland Union HighColusa Unified

High school in town Wheatland Union HighColusa High

Students per teacherat that high school 20.4Highest 20.0Lowest

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.

Wheatland neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Wheatland’s Town Square.

Colusa neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Colusa’s Town Square.

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks California towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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.

Wheatland vs Colusa

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they part ways

Wheatland places higher on 12 of 21 CA lists

A typical home costs $550 more a month in Wheatland

What daily life feels like in each

35 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Set another town beside Wheatland and Colusa

Towns like Wheatland

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