Signals
Live Oak
Arroyo Grande
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 29%
vs49 · Bottom 36%
Climate
81 · Top 15%
vs89 · Top 8%
Physical resilience
24 · Bottom 18%
vs31 · Bottom 24%
Housing affordability
32 · Bottom 2%
vs44 · Bottom 6%
Access
88 · Bottom 36%
vs90 · Bottom 43%
Economic stability
61 · Top 49%
vs62 · Top 46%
Measured values
| Metric | Live Oak | Arroyo Grande | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,911 | 18,372 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $103,674 | $102,553 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $58,372 | $50,623 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 5,215/sq mi | 3,093/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,015,200 | $814,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,421 | $2,173 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.7% | 60.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.0% | -3.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.8% | 45.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.9% | 4.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 72°F | 78°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 40°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 22.4" | 17.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 26 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 24.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.8 | 45.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 3 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 23.56 | 20.89 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 25.7% | 49.1% | 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
Live Oak
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake, inland flooding.
Arroyo Grande
Elevated or high exposure: drought, wildfire, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Live Oak
55
Your Score
—
Area Score
Arroyo Grande
57
Your Score
51
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Live Oak, CA · Arroyo Grande, CA · How this is calculated: methodology