Signals
Castaic
Ripon
Opportunity
44 · Bottom 24%
vs44 · Bottom 24%
Climate
78 · Top 22%
vs76 · Top 26%
Physical resilience
11 · Bottom 4%
vs25 · Bottom 20%
Housing affordability
71 · Bottom 36%
vs76 · Bottom 42%
Access
93 · Top 45%
vs98 · Top 20%
Economic stability
79 · Top 9%
vs72 · Top 24%
Measured values
| Metric | Castaic | Ripon | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,999 | 16,201 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $129,863 | $133,380 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $50,149 | $55,986 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,479/sq mi | 3,030/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $792,000 | $704,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,770 | $1,851 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 83.1% | 65.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 6.2% | July 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | -1.8% | July 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.6% | 29.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 5.1% | 5.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 88°F | 95°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 39°F | 39°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 13.1" | 13.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 20 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 34.5 min | 28.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.9 | 40.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 24.63 | 22.22 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 40.5% | 29.8% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Castaic
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, earthquake.
Ripon
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake.
Full profiles: Castaic, CA · Ripon, CA · How this is calculated: methodology