What it's like to live in American Canyon
American Canyon is a small city in California with household incomes running above the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. American Canyon deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
How American Canyon compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to American Canyon
Based on American Canyon's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$5,074
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $101,480 a year
- 60% of American Canyon renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$138,520
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $69,260
- Homes cost 5.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 80% above US
$2,537/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,537 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $692,600. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $692,600 · 60% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Napa County is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Napa County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 22% above US
400 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1160/100k · American Canyon Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 14% above US
30 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 29.7 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 39°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforceNear US average
33% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 33% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 25:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is John Muir National Historic Site (15 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
American Canyon's strongest point is household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,537/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who doesn't drive.
See all the data for American Canyon →·All California cities →
Other places near American Canyon
All California guides →Moving to Vallejo →
5 mi away · pop. 124,268
Rent $2,073/mo · Income $90,171
Compare with American Canyon →Moving to Napa →
8 mi away · pop. 78,239
Rent $2,282/mo · Income $105,963
Compare with American Canyon →Moving to Benicia →
9 mi away · pop. 26,749
Rent $2,280/mo · Income $121,204
Compare with American Canyon →Moving to Hercules →
10 mi away · pop. 26,302
Rent $2,991/mo · Income $129,397
Compare with American Canyon →Not sure American Canyon is the one?
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