20180813-FS-ShastaTrinity-PRW-025, 2018
Anderson’s story
148 years in pictures
Census counts: 508 in 1890, 11,323 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 1901 and 2 maps from 1947 on.
- 1878Anderson is settled
AndersonCA
A town of 11,131, settled in 1878.
Photo: Jonmallard · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
11,131
2025 Census estimate · −1.7% since 2020
Typical home
$336K
+0.8% in a year
Household income
$47K
median
Median age
37.9
years
Jobs based here
3,909
Balanced
TownGrade
D−
#731 of 841 in CA
Is Anderson a good place to live?
Anderson earns a D−, 731st of 841 graded towns in California, mostly because of safety and incomes. It reports more crime per resident than 89% of U.S. towns, including 78 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. The median household income is $47K, and 21% of residents live below the poverty line. One bright spot: it has 14 miles of trail. Anderson’s July high is 98°F, above both the California town median (89°F) and the median of U.S. towns (85°F). FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 87% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Anderson River Park, at 233 acres with 4.2 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
What makes Anderson stand out
Where Anderson beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A growing town
Anderson has grown 12% since 2010
9,932 counted in 2010 and 11,323 in 2020; an estimated 11,131 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Anderson grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Anderson is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →SafetyDOpen →Jobs & incomeDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 12 of 20; 8.5% of households have no carA−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $336K, 4.6 years of the Redding metro’s $73K median household incomeCOpen →SchoolsCOpen →HealthLess healthy than 65% of U.S. towns; Mercy Medical Center Redding 10 miles awayCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors8% conserved landA−Open →HistoryC−Open →Civic life2.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market22 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 37.9; 16% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Anderson: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Anderson, and how to reach them.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Anderson water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Anderson’s trash rules yet
SchoolsAnderson Union High School DistrictCascade Union Elementary School District2 districts serve Anderson; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereShasta County Clerk-ElectionsShasta County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code9600796007 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Anderson.
Anderson is healthier than towns with similar incomes, has hotter summers than nearly all U.S. towns and trades workers with Redding and other neighbors.
OutdoorsA−
Conserved land covers 8.2% of Anderson
The trail density in Anderson is 1.9 miles per square mile.
#167for trails in CA
| Anderson | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.9 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 8.2% | 4.2% | 4.3% |
8.2%
conserved · 375 of 4,590 acres
14 mi
of trails · 1.9 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Anderson River Park | 4.2 mi | 233 |
| 2. Volonte Park | — | 9 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC
Public schools in Anderson fall behind 66% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the Cascade Union Elementary school district. Two of its 9 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Anderson High, with 562 students.
34%of CA districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meadow Lane ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 398 | B |
| Anderson HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 562 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
HousingCost of living grade C
The median rent in Anderson is lower than in the typical California or U.S. town
69.3% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, against 55.3% across California. The median property tax bill is $2,186, against $5,124 across California, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
Anderson’s median rent is $962 a month. The typical Anderson home is worth about $336,000, up 0.8% in a year, 56% below the California typical home. 58% of Anderson households own their home.
$336KZillow home value
| Anderson | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $962 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 58% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Anderson$336K
California$762K
Market temperature
22
days on market
99.4%
sale-to-list price
+0.8%
value change, 1 year
15
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyD
Anderson earns a D for safety
Reported crimes fell from 377 to 225 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Anderson reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 89% report less.
11%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
| Anderson | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 7 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 13.2 per 1,000 residents | 13.4 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Anderson7
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Anderson13.2
California18.2
U.S.15.5
11th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
15th
percentile among CA towns
78
violent crimes reported in 2025
147
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Very high risk in Anderson, with inland flooding at the top
Since 1983, 24 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Anderson.
87risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesWildfire
24
paid flood claims since 1983
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Anderson
July afternoons average 98.4°, hotter than in 99% of U.S. towns; January nights average 39.2°.
Anderson has mild winters and hot summers. Snow is almost unheard of.
98°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter40–57°
Spring49–73°
Summer65–95°
Fall52–78°
Nov 21
typical first frost
Mar 3
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
98°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthC
Anderson stands out in California and nationally: a larger share of its adults have been diagnosed with depression
Against the 4,791 U.S. towns with household incomes like Anderson’s, it is healthier than 77%, so its C isn’t only a matter of income.
26% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Anderson.
35%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| Anderson | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 22% | 23% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 35% | 36% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 11% | 14% |
32 measures vs. California
1 better17 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | Anderson | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 8.5% | 10.6% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.5% | 5.1% |
Mercy Medical Center Redding
10 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
26th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
About two in five of Anderson’s working residents commute to Redding
Anderson has about as many jobs (3,909) as working residents, but only 517 people both live and work here. The average commute takes 19.7 minutes, against 28.7 across California.
Most working residents leave Anderson for work: only 13% work in town. Since 2013, Anderson has added 998 jobs, to 3,909 in 2023. The top destinations are Redding (43%), Red Bluff (3%) and Chico (2%).
13%work in town
| Anderson | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $47,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 6.6% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Anderson13%
Redding43%
Red Bluff3%
Chico2%
Cottonwood2%
10 mi
median commute distance
3,909
jobs based in Anderson
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 79% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Nearby attractions
All 15 attractions →Lassen Volcanic National Park and 7 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Anderson. Close and well known come first.
36 mi National ParkLassen Volcanic National Park505K visitors a year
39 mi National forestShasta–Trinity National Forest
11 mi MuseumTurtle Bay Exploration Park
10 mi TheatreCascade Theatre
14 mi National Recreation AreaWhiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area764K visitors a year
39 mi MuseumWeaverville Joss House State Historic ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Lassen Volcanic National Park: en:User:Mav, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Shasta–Trinity National Forest: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Turtle Bay Exploration Park: DimiTalen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cascade Theatre: Publichall, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area: RoyalMayfair, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
-L1007085.jpg){kind=link}
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Anderson
19pages on Anderson
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 66% of CA districts · 9 schoolsSafetyD7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than CA on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC$336K typical home · up 0.8% in a yearWork & commuteD$47K median household income · 3,909 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 87% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Anderson
Shasta Bible College and Graduate SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Redding8.1 mi$14,535 tuitionSimpson UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Redding11.5 mi$39,708 tuitionShasta CollegeCommunity college · Public · Redding12.2 mi$1,197 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Anderson residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About Anderson
City in California, United States
Anderson is a city in Shasta County, California, United States, approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of Redding. Its population is 11,323 as of the 2020 census, up from 9,932 from the 2010 census. Located 138 miles (222 km) north of Sacramento, the city's roots are as a railroad town near the northern tip of the Central Valley of California. The city was named after ranch owner Elias Anderson, who granted the Oregon and California Railroad trackage rights and land for a station. Elias Anderson was a farmer, hotel owner, and postmaster. Elias married Elizabeth Summers in 1839 and built the Prairie House in the community of Cottonwood in 1856 on the south side of Cottonwood Creek (now Tehama …
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1956
- Area
- 6.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 433 ft
- ZIP code
- 96007
- Area code
- 530
Questions about Anderson
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Anderson, CA a good place to live?
Anderson grades D− overall, better than 4% of U.S. towns and #731 of 841 in California. It grades C for health, D for safety and C for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Anderson, CA expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.