C-

Pioneer, CA

Source:

Affordability Score: 53/100

Population: 5,336 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Pioneer, CA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 5,336 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (53/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $84,311, median home value of $386,500, median rent of $1,900 per month, and 22.7% 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 $1,698 per month (studio $1,387, 1BR $1,396, 3BR $2,220, 4BR $2,714). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $12,218 per year, consuming 14% 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. Unemployment currently reads 3.7% and poverty 8.9% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B
$84,311
Median household income
Education F
22.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.6x
Home value $386,500 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent B-
$1,698/mo
2BR fair market rent (24% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C-
$12,218/yr
Center-based infant care (14% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$84,311
▲ 36% vs national
Per Capita Income
$48,397
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Poverty Rate
8.9%

Housing

Median Home Value
$386,500
▲ 41% vs national
Median Rent
$1,900/mo
Owner Occupied
88.1%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,698/mo
▲ 42% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,387
1BR
$1,396
2BR
$1,698
3BR
$2,220
4BR
$2,714

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
22.7%
▼ 7 ppt vs national
High School+
55.8%
Median Age
56.4
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$12,218/yr
14% of income
Toddler (Center)
$9,683/yr
Preschool (Center)
$7,564/yr
School-Age (Center)
$3,065/yr

What This Means

Pioneer, CA receives an overall affordability grade of C- (53/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 5,336. Challenges include education and housing. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Pioneer, CA affordable?
Pioneer, CA receives an overall affordability grade of C- (53/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $84,311. Median home value is $386,500.
What is the cost of living in Pioneer?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,900/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,698/mo. Infant childcare $12,218/yr. Median home value $386,500.
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 →