What it's like to live in Redding
Redding is a smaller city in California with commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Redding deals with crime rates above the national average, hospital ratings below the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Short commutes
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Very hot summers
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Redding compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Redding
Based on Redding's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,758
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,160 a year
- 50% of Redding renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$76,460
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $38,230
- Homes cost 5.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,379/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,379 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $382,300. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $382,300 · 50% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 19% above US
5.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.1%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 123% above US
735 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 1663/100k · Redding Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 36% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 16.7 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 97°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 38°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 25% below US
27% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 27%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
38 public schools inside the boundary
There are 38 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (13 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Redding's strongest point is commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and hospital ratings below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,379/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and people who struggle with heat.
Other places near Redding
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