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Town0
Columbia

California

#1 in Best Suburbs to Raise a Family in Columbia, MO Area
  • B
    Overall Grade
  • Town in Missouri
  • 9 reviews
    B
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      A-
    2. Crime & Safety
      B-
    3. Housing
      B+
    4. Nightlife
      C
    5. Good for Families
      B+
    6. Diversity
      B
    7. Jobs
      B-
    8. Weather
      B-
    9. Cost of Living
      A-
    10. Health & Fitness
      C
    11. Outdoor Activities
      C+
    12. Commute
      B-
    View Full Report Card
    California is a town in Missouri with a population of 4,368. California is in Moniteau County. Living in California offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. Many families, young professionals, and retirees live in California and residents tend to be conservative. The public schools in California are highly rated.
    About California...
    Population
    4,368

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $101,000
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $573
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Sparse Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      32%
    • Own
      68%
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    Niche may be compensated by the third party lenders and others who place ads on the website. Niche is not a lender and does not endorse the products of these advertisers. Fees that Niche receives for ads do not affect the terms you may be offered by the lender you choose. There are many additional borrowing options available.

    California Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    B-
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      67.8
      282.7
    • Murder
      0
      6.1
    • Rape
      0
      40.7
    • Robbery
      0
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      180.8
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,039.5
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      22.6
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    B
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      13%
    • 10-17 years
      14%
    • 18-24 years
      6%
    • 25-34 years
      13%
    • 35-44 years
      12%
    • 45-54 years
      15%
    • 55-64 years
      9%
    • 65+ years
      18%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      5%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      17%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      26%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      40%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      12%
      13%

    Working in California

    Jobs
    B-
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $37,500
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in California
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      California Reviews

      9 reviews
      All Categories
      Compared to the surrounding towns, California is relatively large. It has a population of around 5,000 people and has its own elementary, middle, and high school. There are several grocery stores and fast food resturaunts are abundant. The park is clean and features a gorgeous lake where you can fish. It is also only 20 to 30 minutes away from the state capitol, Jefferson City. Anything that isn't already provided in California can be found in Jeff.
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      I moved here from Kansas City withbmy parents in February 1987 and have been here ever since. We have a beautiful park (Procter park) as well as several smaller park. If you like going out and being close to bigger cities we are about 20-30 minutes from Jefferson City, Mo (state capital), 45 min to an hour from Columbia, Mo, hr from Lake of the Ozarks, and smack dab between Kansas City and St Louis (about 2 hrs to each). If you prefer the “quiet life” of small town living than this is it. Several activities to get your kids involved in and the townsfolk Amd businesses are TRULY supportive of the kids school sports, music and school programs and fundraisers. The Biggest downfall is drugs however the new sheriff is really doing a great job of trying to irradicate drugs in Moniteau County.
      California is a small town with not a lot to offer. However, there are lots of good-hearted people who are very welcoming and courteous to visitors. There isn't a ton of crime in California, but drugs are one of the more common crimes here. Overall, California is a decent town with a good amount of history.