Atwater, CA

Census place 0603162 · pop 32,162

F28/ 100
💀 Bad
F
in CA
📍 California ranks #49 of 50 states →
🏆 Growth+9.8% · top 20%
🚽 Jobs9.9% · bottom 1%
Taxes
0.66% property · US 0.99%8.99% sales · US 7.00%up to 13.30% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Unemployment rateCounty-level9.9%1

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

9.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Bachelor's degree or higher12.9%5

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

12.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level35 days8

U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities

35 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Violent crime rate707/100k8

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

707 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Uninsured adults17.1%12

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

17.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Physical inactivity32.8%15

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

32.8% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poverty rate21.0%15

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

21.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Homeownership52.1%19

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

52.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poor mental health19.2%19

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.2% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Air quality (AQI)County-level52 AQI21

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

52 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property crime rate2265/100k23

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

2265 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Commute time28 min24

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

28 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level95/10030

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

95/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Median household income$64,47235

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$64,472 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Housing cost$363,40036

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$363,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Adult smoking14.5%38

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

14.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Broadband access91.0%45

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

91.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Adult obesity34.2%54

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

34.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Income inequality0.4262

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.42 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Rent$1,573/mo64

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,573/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Property-tax burden0.66%77

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.66% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Population growth (5yr)+9.8%80

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+9.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Frequently asked

Is Atwater, CA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Atwater scores 28/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is population growth (5yr) and its weakest is unemployment rate. California overall ranks #49 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Atwater, CA?
Atwater reports 707 violent crimes per 100k and 2265 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Atwater, CA expensive to live in?
Atwater has a median home value of $363,400 and typical rent around $1,573/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Atwater, CA?
Its weakest measured area is unemployment rate (9.9%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
What is Atwater, CA best at?
Its strongest measured area is population growth (5yr) (+9.8%) — 80/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.