Oroville, CA

Census place 0654386 · pop 19,752

F28/ 100
💀 Bad
F
in CA
📍 California ranks #49 of 50 states →
🏆 Commute20 min · top 24%
🚽 Mental21.9% · bottom 2%
Taxes
0.81% 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

Poor mental health21.9%2

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

21.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Violent crime rate981/100k4

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

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

Bachelor's degree or higher12.2%4

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

12.2% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Unemployment rateCounty-level5.7%5

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

5.7% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property crime rate3882/100k5

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

3882 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Adult smoking18.7%10

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

18.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poverty rate21.4%14

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

21.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Median household income$52,27016

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

$52,270 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Broadband access86.2%16

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

86.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Homeownership53.0%20

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

53.0% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Income inequality0.4821

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.48 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Natural disaster riskCounty-level97/10022

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

97/100 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.

Physical inactivity29.2%29

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

29.2% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Air quality (AQI)County-level46 AQI36

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

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

Uninsured adults10.9%38

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

10.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Population growth (5yr)+1.9%42

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

+1.9% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Housing cost$311,60044

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

$311,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level2 days51

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

2 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.

Property-tax burden0.81%62

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

0.81% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Adult obesity32.8%62

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

32.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Rent$1,438/mo73

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

$1,438/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Commute time20 min76

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

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

Frequently asked

Is Oroville, CA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Oroville 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 commute time and its weakest is poor mental health. 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 Oroville, CA?
Oroville reports 981 violent crimes per 100k and 3882 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Oroville, CA expensive to live in?
Oroville has a median home value of $311,600 and typical rent around $1,438/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Oroville, CA?
Its weakest measured area is poor mental health (21.9%) — 2/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Oroville, CA best at?
Its strongest measured area is commute time (20 min) — 76/100, 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.