Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Forest Ranch

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
California›Butte County
CompareFollow

Forest RanchCA

A town of 1,915, settled in 1878.

Population
1,915
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$359K
−1.7% in a year
Household income
$132K
median
Median age
43.8
years
Jobs based here
89
A commuter town

Is Forest Ranch a good place to live?

Forest Ranch’s best subject grades are a B+ for health and schools; its weakest is a D− for hazard risk. Only 11 of California’s 1,063 towns score lower on walkability. Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, at 538 acres with 1.8 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve. Forest Ranch has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.

WeakestD−Hazard riskD−WalkabilityC−Cost of living

What makes Forest Ranch stand out

Where Forest Ranch beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

Forest Ranch Charter District
SchoolGradesStudents
Forest Ranch CharterK–8110
SchoolsB+
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
99Very high riskLowerHigher
Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD−
Wildfire and inland flooding at the top
FEMA National Risk Index.
A growing town

Forest Ranch has grown 10% from 2010 to 2020

1,184 counted in 2010 and 1,304 in 2020.

1,1842010
1,3042020

U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts

How Forest Ranch grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Forest Ranch is from typical.

How grading works

Hazard riskwildfire tops the listD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 4.2 of 20; 0% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitD−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $359K, 5.3 years of the Chico metro’s $68K median household incomeC−Open →HealthEnloe Health 14.2 miles awayB+Open →SchoolsB+Open →Jobs & income$132K median household incomeB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors5 miles of trails; 8% conserved landBOpen →HistoryDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 43.8; 25% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Forest Ranch: who provides what

Forest Ranch is unincorporated, so Butte County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMountain Village Homeowner's Assoc1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & county servicesButte CountyButte County provides services here
SchoolsChico Unified School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
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.gov
Who runs elections hereButte County ElectionsButte County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025
ZIP code9594295942 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 Forest Ranch.

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−

Forest Ranch faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by wildfire

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 99% of U.S. communities.

99risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
99Very high riskLowerHigher
WildfireInland flooding
4
federal disasters paid out here
Full pageForest Ranch’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery high riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters4 federal disasters · Paid out in Forest RanchGet readyReady for wildfire

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

73%of CA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
Forest Ranch CharterLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8Grades K–8110B+
Full pageForest Ranch’s schools pageOpen the page
The districtsForest Ranch Charter DistrictEvery school1 school · Forest Ranch CharterQuestions“Are Forest Ranch’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation

HousingCost of living grade C−

More of Forest Ranch’s households own their home than in the typical California or U.S. town

97% of Forest Ranch households own their home, above both the California town median (64%) and the median of U.S. towns (73%). The typical Forest Ranch home is worth about $359,000, down 1.7% in a year, 53% below the California typical home.

$359KZillow home value

Typical home value

Forest Ranch$359K
California$762K
−1.7%
value change, 1 year
3
homes sold in April
Full pageForest Ranch’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page
Prices over the yearsDown 1.7% in a yearYears of income to buyA typical home costs 2.7 years of incomeRentsRents

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+

Forest Ranch stands out in California and nationally, with fewer of its residents who live below the poverty line

1.5% of Forest Ranch residents live below the poverty line, below both California’s towns (10%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Since 2013, Forest Ranch has added 37 jobs, to 89 in 2023. The average trip to work in Forest Ranch is 24 minutes.

4%work in town
Forest RanchCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Below the poverty line1.5%10%9.6%
Average trip to work24 minutes28 minutes25 minutes
Working residents who work in town3.9%6.6%8%

Where working residents work

In Forest Ranch4%
Chico32%
Sacramento5%
Durham4%
Butte Valley3%
18 mi
median commute distance
89
jobs based in Forest Ranch
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 4% of U.S. towns
Full pageForest Ranch’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here89 jobs based here · A commuter townWhere people work4% work in Forest RanchCommute times24 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 18 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

HealthB+

Forest Ranch ranks healthier than 74% of the country’s towns

Forest Ranch beats the California average on 11 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 31% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Forest Ranch.

74%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
Forest RanchCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES)31%35%36%
Feel lonely (CDC PLACES)32%36%33%
Obesity (CDC PLACES)27%29%35%
Get no exercise (CDC PLACES)20%24%25%
32 measures vs. California
11 better15 too close to call6 worse
What stands outForest RanchCA
Fewer uninsured adults5.9%10.6%
Fewer adults facing food insecurity10.1%17.9%
More adults who have had cancer11%6.4%
Enloe Health
14.2 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
Full pageForest Ranch’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsFewer adults who get no exerciseHospitals & doctors nearby14.2 miles to an ER · Enloe HealthHow adults are doingFewer adults lacking emotional supportEvery CDC estimateBetter than CA on 11 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Climate

Mild winters and hot summers in Forest Ranch

Forest Ranch has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. Forest Ranch’s July high is 92°F.

92°summer high

Typical low → high °F

Winter38–55°
Spring45–67°
Summer61–89°
Fall51–74°
Nov 11
typical first frost
Apr 17
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
Full pageForest Ranch’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 92°, January lows 38°Rain & snow59″ of rain a year · Snow is almost unheard ofHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.2° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

OutdoorsB

Forest Ranch has set aside 7.8% of its land for conservation

5.3 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves.

7.8%conserved
Forest RanchCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Miles of trail per square mile0.4 miles per square mile1.00.4
Conserved land7.8%4.3%4.3%
7.8%
conserved · 694 of 8,867 acres
5.3 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
Biggest places to walkTrailsAcres
1. Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve1.8 mi538
2. Forks of Butte Creek Recreation Area—9
Full pageForest Ranch’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map5.3 miles of trail, mappedPick a walk1.8 miles of trail · Big Chico Creek Ecological ReserveConserved land7.8% conserved · 694 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in Forest Ranch?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Nearby attractions

Lassen Volcanic National Park and 4 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Forest Ranch. Close and well known come first.

All 12 attractions →
31 mi National ParkLassen Volcanic National Park505K visitors a year27 mi DamOroville Dam10 mi Park & preserveBidwell Park12 mi MuseumChico Air Museum14 mi MuseumMuseum of Northern California Art
Sources: 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 · Oroville Dam: California Department of Water Resources, Public domain · Bidwell Park: Saopaulo1 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Chico Air Museum: Bsudicky, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Museum of Northern California Art: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Forest Ranch

17pages on Forest Ranch
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 73% of CA districts · 1 schoolHealthB+Better than CA on 11 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$359K typical home · down 1.7% in a yearWork & commuteB+$132K median household income · 89 jobs hereNatural hazardsD−FEMA risk higher than 99% of U.S. communities · wildfire
Out and about
OutdoorsB5 mi of trails · 8% conserved landPlacesAttractions12 nearby · Bidwell Park 10 miLibraryParadise BranchCollegesCal Northern School of Law is 12.2 mi away
The story
HistoryDSettled 1878Climate92° summer highs
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookZIP code 95942Town SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

2 within 15 miles of the center of Forest Ranch

Cal Northern School of LawUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Chico12.2 miCalifornia State University-ChicoUniversity or college · Public · Chico14.7 mi$8,472 in-state tuition

About 2 of every 100 Forest Ranch residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A commuter town

96% of working residents leave Forest Ranch for work

Where Forest Ranch’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

32% → Chico Chico 32% 5% → Sacramento Sacramento 5% 4% → Durham Durham 4% 3% → Butte Valley Butte Valley 3% 3% → Oroville Oroville 3% 2% → Redding Redding 2% Forest Ranch · 4% stay
89jobs based in Forest Ranch
4%of working residents work in town
18 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

About Forest Ranch

Unincorporated community in California, United States

Forest Ranch is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Butte County, California, United States. It includes Forest Ranch Charter School (K-8), its own post office, and a CDF and Volunteer fire stations. The community's ZIP code is 95942, and is shared with the community of Butte Meadows. The area code is 530. Forest Ranch's population was 1,304 at the 2020 census. In late July 2024, the community was affected by the Park Fire. Several structures were destroyed, but the majority of the community was left standing. The US Geological Survey reports the town's elevation as 2,415 feet (736 m) above mean sea level. The eastern end of the community is about 3,500 feet (1,067 m)…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Area
14 sq mi
Elevation
2,415 ft
ZIP code
95942
Area code
530

Questions about Forest Ranch

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Forest Ranch, CA expensive?

Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.