City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Paradise, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Paradise - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

6,793
Residents
$67,042
Median income
$391,100
Median home
$1,625
Median rent (state)

Paradise - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Paradise lands in the 46th percentile for household income and the 65th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

46th
percentile, household income
77th
percentile, home value
64th
percentile, median rent
65th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Paradise, CA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 6,793 residents in Paradise, a small town within California. Paradise households earn a median of $67,042 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 18.4%. Paradise's housing stock carries a median value of $391,100, and the median resident age is 60.3 years. About 30.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 29.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 461 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 48% from five years earlier. Paradise reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 978.7 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 61.5°F with 56.3 inches of precipitation per year and 0.1 inches of snowfall.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,625 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $275 across California, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 93.9 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

6,793 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$67,042 /yr

Poverty 18.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Paradise compare to other US cities?

Where Paradise sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 46% higher than other cities
Home value 77% pricier than other cities
Median rent 64% pricier than other cities
Safety 65% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at California, Paradise ranks #55 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Paradise's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

46thIncome percentile
65thSafety percentile

46th percentile nationally for median household income · 65th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Paradise's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Paradise's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 47 Avg. percentile National median
Paradise's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Paradise's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$391,100 23rd percentile more affordable than 23% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Paradise $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Paradise, CA Paradise, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Paradise, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Paradise, CA median $67,042/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Paradise, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Paradise, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 30.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 18.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 29.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
6,793
Median Income
$67,042
Median Home Value
$391,100
Median Age
60.3
Poverty Rate
18.4%
Labor force participation
29.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
30.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
978.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
285.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
693.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
61.5°F
Annual Precipitation
56.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
4,000 residents6,000 residents8,000 residents10,000 residents12,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,090 residents 10,023 residents ▲ +96.9%
Paradise's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
461
housing units authorized
Single-Family
345
detached homes
Multifamily
116
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
67.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 312
2020 1,035
2021 764
2022 559
2023 374
2024 461

Permit volume increased 48% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.6%
Carpool
4.0%
Public Transit
1.5%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
14.6%
Other
1.1%

Based on 1,718 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Paradise sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,625/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
93.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Vandenberg
6,793 people
Loomis
6,809 people
Joshua Tree
6,767 people
Lake Mathews
6,749 people
Ben Lomond
6,849 people
Nuevo
6,737 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Paradise's 6,793 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA
6,793 people
Donaldsonville, LA
6,792 people
Bowleys Quarters, MD
6,795 people
Marshall, MI
6,797 people
Bennettsville, SC
6,798 people
Sturtevant, WI
6,787 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Paradise's $67,042 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Breesport, NY
$67,043 median income
Benjamin, UT
$67,045 median income
Nellis AFB, NV
$67,036 median income
Hurley, MS
$67,051 median income
East Globe, AZ
$67,031 median income
Zearing, IA
$67,031 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Paradise, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Paradise, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 82.8% 11.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.8% White 82.8% Black or African American 0.6% Asian 1.9% American Indian 1.4% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 11.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Paradise compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Paradise (this city) 6,793 $67,042
Vandenberg 6,793 $104,714
Loomis 6,809 $103,435
Joshua Tree 6,767 $64,036
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Paradise, CA?

What is the population of Paradise, CA? +

The population of Paradise, CA stands at 6,793 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Paradise, CA? +

Median annual household income in Paradise runs $67,042, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Paradise? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Paradise; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Paradise, CA safe? +

Paradise has a total crime rate of 978.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Paradise, CA? +

Paradise's median home value sits at $391,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Paradise? +

Paradise has an average annual temperature of 61.5°F, 56.3 inches of precipitation, and 0.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.