City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Rio Oso, CA

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

421
Residents
$172,500
Median income
$478,800
Median home
$1,550
Median rent (state)

Rio Oso - the verdict

Nationally, Rio Oso sits in the 96th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

96th
percentile, household income
84th
percentile, home value
61st
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Rio Oso, CA

421 people live in Rio Oso, California - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Rio Oso brings in $172,500 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.0%. Home values in Rio Oso run a median of $478,800, and the median resident age is 36.1 years. 23.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 61.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,550 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 83.7 out of 100 (High).

Population

421 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$172,500 /yr

Poverty 2.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Rio Oso compare to other US cities?

Rio Oso measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 96% higher than other cities
Home value 84% pricier than other cities
Median rent 61% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Rio Oso against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Rio Oso toward the bottom of California's cities

Among the 1,450 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Rio Oso ranks #1,116 - the 23rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Rio Oso only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#116 of 1,338
91st percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#1,034 of 1,458
25th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#728 of 1,343
46th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#1,116 of 1,450
23rd percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#791 of 1,458
45th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

96thIncome percentile

96th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Rio Oso's home value compares nationally

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

$478,800 16th percentile more affordable than 16% 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%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Rio Oso $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 - Rio Oso, CA Rio Oso, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rio Oso, 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 Rio Oso, CA median $172,500/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%
Rio Oso, 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 Rio Oso, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.2%

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

Population
421
Median Income
$172,500
Median Home Value
$478,800
Median Age
36.1
Poverty Rate
2.0%
Labor force participation
61.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.4%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
65.9%
Carpool
9.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.8%
Work from Home
20.5%

Based on 185 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 Rio Oso sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,550/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
83.7 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Princeton
422 people
Potrero
423 people
Seville
423 people
Smith Corner
423 people
Trinidad
424 people
Tonyville
417 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rio Oso's 421 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Thomaston, AL
421 people
Larwill, IN
421 people
Baxterville, MS
421 people
Stockton, NJ
421 people
Elmora, PA
421 people
Herminie, PA
421 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rio Oso's $172,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Biltmore Forest, NC
$172,500 median income
Bear Creek Village, PA
$172,500 median income
Taconic Shores, NY
$172,514 median income
Lynnfield, MA
$172,484 median income
Olmos Park, TX
$172,434 median income
Key Biscayne, FL
$172,604 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rio Oso, 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 Rio Oso, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 81.7% 7.8% 7.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.9% White 81.7% Black or African American 1.4% Asian 7.8% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 7.8% 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 Rio Oso 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
Rio Oso (this city) 421 $172,500
Princeton 422 $73,958
Potrero 423 N/A
Seville 423 $47,857
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rio Oso, CA?

What is the population of Rio Oso, CA? +

The population of Rio Oso, CA stands at 421 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rio Oso, CA? +

The median household income in Rio Oso is $172,500 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rio Oso? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rio Oso; 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.

What is the median home value in Rio Oso, CA? +

A typical home in Rio Oso is worth $478,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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

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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.