Avenal, CA

Census place 0603302 · pop 13,608

F27/ 100
💀 Bad
F
in CA
📍 California ranks #49 of 50 states →
🏆 Inequality0.35 · top 3%
🚽 Education2.8% · bottom 1%
Taxes
0.67% 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

Bachelor's degree or higher2.8%0

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

2.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Unemployment rateCounty-level8.9%1

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

8.9% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Uninsured adults29.9%2

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

29.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Physical inactivity40.0%3

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

40.0% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Commute time36 min3

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

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

Adult smoking20.7%4

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

20.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poor mental health20.9%5

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

20.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Air quality (AQI)County-level60 AQI7

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

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

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.

Homeownership45.5%9

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

45.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Broadband access85.0%12

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

85.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Adult obesity40.5%17

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

40.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Violent crime rate461/100k19

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

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

Poverty rate19.2%20

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

19.2% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Median household income$54,74120

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

$54,741 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level91/10045

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

91/100 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.

Housing cost$228,90063

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

$228,900 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Population growth (5yr)+5.0%63

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

+5.0% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Property-tax burden0.67%76

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

0.67% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Property crime rate203/100k92

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

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

Income inequality0.3597

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.35 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Not measured for Avenal: Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Avenal, CA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Avenal scores 27/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 21 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is income inequality and its weakest is bachelor's degree or higher. 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 Avenal, CA?
Avenal reports 461 violent crimes per 100k and 203 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Avenal, CA expensive to live in?
Avenal has a median home value of $228,900 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Avenal, CA?
Its weakest measured area is bachelor's degree or higher (2.8%) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Avenal, CA best at?
Its strongest measured area is income inequality (0.35) — 97/100, 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.