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Living in
Ripon.
About
Life in Ripon
Living in Ripon means settling into a tight-knit Central Valley community where you're getting genuine small-town character without the isolation—your median household income sits at a healthy $133,380, and home values around $704,800 reflect a relatively affordable slice of California compared to Bay Area alternatives, though you're still paying California prices. The community itself skews toward families—over 40% of households have kids under 18, and the schools are genuinely solid, with all five elementary schools and the high school scoring above 700 on the Academic Performance Index, three of them earning California Distinguished School recognition. Your 26.7-minute average commute is reasonable for the region, and outdoor recreation exists nearby (Eugene O'Neill and John Muir historic sites aren't far), but frankly, weekends here revolve more around family activities and community events than adventure tourism.
Ripon at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.4%
Foreign-Born
7.5%
Broadband Internet
94.1%
of households
Population Growth
+0.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Ripon: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Ripon, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (26.2%), and 8.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.1%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
14.3%
of households
Married Couples
61.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.88
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 9% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Ripon
In Ripon, rent runs 9% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
105.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,034
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
65.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1995
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $673,757 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.2 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Ripon and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in San Joaquin County, which includes Ripon, is 1.2 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Ripon: San Joaquin County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
San Joaquin County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Ripon is about 2% of San Joaquin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Ripon Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Stockton-Lodi, CA metro area
Commute26.8 min avg
How Ripon residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ripon, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 71% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK)
Regional airport · few flights66k passengers boarded in 2025
- 51 mi
Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Medium hub5.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 69 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 53% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Ripon runs 53% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
153.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
632.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Ripon Police Department
Natural DisastersDrought most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Joaquin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Joaquin County, which includes Ripon, the most common type is drought, with 7 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 11 | Cold/Wind Chill | None reported |
| 2023 | 16 | Flood | $107.0M |
| 2022 | 21 | Drought | None reported |
| 2021 | 22 | Drought | None reported |
| 2020 | 6 | Wildfire | None reported |
| 2019 | 7 | Funnel Cloud | None reported |
| 2018 | 6 | Heat | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
229 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Joaquin County, county-wide
Ripon is about 2% of San Joaquin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality46 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in San Joaquin County, which includes Ripon, is typically good — 219 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
46
Good Days
219
per year
Moderate Days
146
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
San Joaquin County, county-wide
Ripon is about 2% of San Joaquin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate93°F summers, 40°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Ripon has hot summers (avg high 93°F) and mild winters (avg low 40°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
75°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
93°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/40°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
13.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
88
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
19
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
57
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 39°F | 2.67" |
| Feb | 63°F | 41°F | 2.50" |
| Mar | 69°F | 44°F | 1.91" |
| Apr | 75°F | 47°F | 1.11" |
| May | 83°F | 53°F | 0.57" |
| Jun | 90°F | 58°F | 0.10" |
| Jul | 95°F | 61°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 94°F | 60°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 90°F | 58°F | 0.08" |
| Oct | 80°F | 51°F | 0.69" |
| Nov | 67°F | 43°F | 1.40" |
| Dec | 57°F | 38°F | 2.41" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Ripon
Uninsured
3.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Ripon's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Doctors Hospital of Manteca
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Manteca
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Manteca
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.4 mi away · Manteca
Doctors Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.1 mi away · Modesto
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education25.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ripon
Ripon's student/teacher ratio is 25.9:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 29.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
25.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Ripon (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 15,109 students · in-state tuition $1,276 · 29% graduate · median earnings $45,551 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, 49 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ripon
Ripon has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (49 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
49 mi awayPort Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
National Memorial
54 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
57 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
68 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
71 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
71 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
73 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
73 mi awayPublic Libraries in Ripon
Ripon Library
333 W. Main St., Ripon
Cities Near Ripon
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Ripon?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Ripon FAQ
Is Ripon, California affordable?⌄
Ripon's median rent is $1,851/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $133,380/year. Median home value is $704,800.
Is Ripon, California safe?⌄
Ripon's violent crime rate was 154 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 633 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Ripon, California?⌄
San Joaquin County, which includes Ripon, has an unemployment rate of 6.7%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Ripon, California?⌄
The cost of living in Ripon is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,851/month and median household income is $133,380/year. The median home value is $704,800. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ripon, California?⌄
The average commute in Ripon is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from