Rio Dell CA Bocce Courts, 2012
Rio Dell’s story
150 years in pictures
Census counts: 213 in 1890, 3,379 in 2020. The archive holds 15 old photos and papers going back to 2010 and 3 maps from 1949 on.
- 1876Rio Dell is settled
Rio DellCA
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Ellin Beltz · Public domain
Population
3,211
2025 Census estimate · −4.9% since 2020
Typical home
$297K
−0.2% in a year
Household income
$43K
median
Median age
35.2
years
Jobs based here
247
A commuter town
TownGrade
D−
#821 of 841 in CA
Is Rio Dell a good place to live?
Rio Dell earns a D−, 821st of 841 graded towns in California, mostly because of incomes and health. The median household income is $43K, and 18% of residents live below the poverty line. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 85% of the country. Rio Dell’s July high is 74°F, against 89°F in California’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns. Only 19 of California’s 1,064 towns score lower on hazard risk. Rio Dell's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 87% of U.S. towns.
What makes Rio Dell stand out
Where Rio Dell beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A commuter town
93% of working residents leave Rio Dell for work
Where Rio Dell’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
247jobs based in Rio Dell
7%of working residents work in town
20 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Rio Dell grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Rio Dell is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 100% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listD−Open →Jobs & income247 jobs based hereD−Open →HealthProvidence Redwood Memorial Hospital 6.1 miles awayC−Open →Cost of livingC−Open →SafetyCOpen →SchoolsCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.5 of 20; 7% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors0% conserved landC−Open →HistoryC−Open →Civic life1.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 76° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.2; 11% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Rio Dell: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Rio Dell, and how to reach them.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Rio Dell water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Rio Dell’s trash rules yet
SchoolsFortuna Union High School DistrictRio Dell Elementary School District2 districts serve Rio Dell; 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 hereHumboldt County Office of ElectionsHumboldt County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2025
ZIP code9556295562 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 Rio Dell.
Rio Dell has a longer frost-free season than nearly all U.S. towns, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has home values still below their peak.
HousingCost of living grade C−
A typical Rio Dell home is worth about $297K
The typical value, about $297K, is 23% below its July 2022 peak. At about $297K, home values are down 17% in five years, against a rise of 13% across California.
The typical Rio Dell home is worth about $297,000, about the same as a year ago, 61% below the California typical home. Rio Dell’s median rent is $1,042 a month.
$297KZillow home value
| Rio Dell | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,042 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 57% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Rio Dell$297K
California$762K
−0.2%
value change, 1 year
4
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsC
Public schools in Rio Dell fall behind 67% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the Rio Dell Elementary school district. One of its 2 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
33%of CA districts it outscoresCSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle Prairie ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 223 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D−
The FEMA risk score in Rio Dell is higher than in the typical California or U.S. town
The FEMA risk score in Rio Dell is 100 of 100. Since 1982, 4 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Rio Dell.
100risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakes
4
paid flood claims since 1982
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthC−
Rio Dell stands out in California and nationally: a larger share of its adults smoke cigarettes
Against the 3,271 U.S. towns with household incomes like Rio Dell’s, it is healthier than 56%, so its C− isn’t only a matter of income.
19% of adults smoke cigarettes in Rio Dell. Rio Dell beats the California average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 19. 29% of adults get no exercise outside work in Rio Dell.
15%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| Rio Dell | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 17% | 17% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 11% | 14% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 22% | 23% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 22% | 19% |
32 measures vs. California
0 better13 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Rio Dell | CA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 10.1% | 5.1% |
| More smokers | 19.4% | 10.9% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 11.4% | 7.3% |
Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital
6.1 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
11th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
Most working residents commute out of Rio Dell
Rio Dell has 247 jobs for its 1,058 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. The average commute takes 19.7 minutes, against 28.7 across California.
Most working residents leave Rio Dell for work: only 7% work in town. The top destinations are Eureka (21%), Fortuna (19%) and Scotia (10%). Half commute less than 20 miles.
7%work in town
| Rio Dell | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $43,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Rio Dell7%
Eureka21%
Fortuna19%
Scotia10%
Arcata3%
20 mi
median commute distance
247
jobs based in Rio Dell
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 50% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SafetyC
More crime per resident in Rio Dell than in 70% of U.S. towns
Within California, it does better than 54% of towns.
30%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade
| Rio Dell | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.7 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 10.8 per 1,000 residents | 13.4 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Rio Dell3.7
California4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Rio Dell10.8
California18.2
U.S.15.5
30th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
54th
percentile among CA towns
12
violent crimes reported in 2025
35
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Mild winters and pleasant summers in Rio Dell
The Grizzly Creek Sp weather station, 11 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 264 days, longer than in 96% of U.S. towns. January nights average 41.3°, milder than in 95% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 74.3°.
Rio Dell has warm winters and cool summers, with plenty of rain. Snow is almost unheard of.
76°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter41–54°
Spring45–62°
Summer53–73°
Fall47–67°
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
76°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
0.4%conserved
0.4%
conserved · 6 of 1,665 acres
0.1 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Fireman's Park | — | 3 |
| 2. Eel River Rio Dell Fishing Access | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Nearby attractions
All 9 attractions →Humboldt Redwoods State Park and 6 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Rio Dell. Close and well known come first.
15 mi State parkHumboldt Redwoods State Park20 mi Zoo & aquariumSequoia Park Zoo
25 mi MuseumArcata Wastewater Treatment Plant and Wildlife Sanctuary
22 mi MuseumClarke Historical Museum
10 mi MuseumFerndale Museum
15 mi GardenHumboldt Botanical GardensSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Humboldt Redwoods State Park: Jason Sturner, CC BY 2.0 · Arcata Wastewater Treatment Plant and Wildlife Sanctuary: Monotropa_uniflora (talk) (Uploads), Public domain · Clarke Historical Museum: NoeHill, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ferndale Museum: Ellin Beltz, Public domain · Humboldt Botanical Gardens: Jennie Sperling, Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Rio Dell
19pages on Rio Dell
The big questions
SchoolsCBehind 67% of CA districts · 2 schoolsSafetyC3.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC−Better than CA on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC−$297K typical home · down 0.2% in a yearWork & commuteD−$43K median household income · 247 jobs hereNatural hazardsD−FEMA risk higher than 100% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Rio Dell
About 4 of every 100 Rio Dell residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About Rio Dell
City in California, United States
Rio Dell (Spanish: Río Dell, meaning "river," with English "dell," meaning small valley in a woodland) is a city in Humboldt County, California, United States. It is located on the west bank of the Eel River 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Scotia at an elevation of 161 feet (49 m). The population was 3,379 at the 2020 census, up from 3,363 at the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1965
- Area
- 2.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 161 ft
- ZIP code
- 95562
- Area code
- 707
Rio Dell’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Rio Dell.
ScotiaRio Dell
How the neighbors grade
Scotia isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Rio Dell with a neighbor →
Questions about Rio Dell
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Rio Dell, CA a good place to live?
Rio Dell grades D− overall, in the bottom 2% of U.S. towns and #821 of 841 in California. It grades C− for health, C for safety and C for schools. Hazard risk is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Rio Dell, CA safe?
Within California, it does better than 54% of towns.
Is Rio Dell, CA expensive?
Yes. That is 4.9 years of the area's median household income ($61,160 across the Eureka-Arcata, CA area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.