F

Oroville, CA

Source:

Affordability Score: 35/100

Population: 51,027 · 2 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Oroville, CA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes covering 51,027 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (35/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $60,637, median home value of $323,273, median rent of $1,166 per month, and 16.5% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,625 per month (studio $1,155, 1BR $1,270, 3BR $2,260, 4BR $2,726). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $18,410 per year, consuming 30% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are education, housing, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 9.2% and poverty 19.5% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$60,637
Median household income
Education F
16.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
5.3x
Home value $323,273 vs income
Commute C
24 min
Average commute time
Rent D
$1,625/mo
2BR fair market rent (32% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$18,410/yr
Center-based infant care (30% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$60,637
▼ 2% vs national
Per Capita Income
$33,425
Unemployment Rate
9.2%
Poverty Rate
19.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
$323,273
▲ 18% vs national
Median Rent
$1,166/mo
Owner Occupied
69.2%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,625/mo
▲ 35% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,155
1BR
$1,270
2BR
$1,625
3BR
$2,260
4BR
$2,726

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
16.5%
▼ 13 ppt vs national
High School+
47.1%
Median Age
40.4
Avg. Commute
24 min
▼ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$18,410/yr
30% of income
Toddler (Center)
$11,247/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,313/yr
School-Age (Center)
$4,507/yr

What This Means

Oroville, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (35/100), aggregated from 2 ZIP codes with a total population of 51,027. Challenges include education and housing and childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Oroville ZIP Codes
View all 2 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Oroville, CA affordable?
Oroville, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (35/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $60,637. Median home value is $323,273.
What is the cost of living in Oroville?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,166/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,625/mo. Infant childcare $18,410/yr. Median home value $323,273.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →