Rio Linda CA 1091, 2013
Rio Linda’s story
112 years in pictures
The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2013 and 7 maps from 1902 on.
- 1914Rio Linda is settled
Rio LindaCA
The town was settled in 1914 and has 16,335 residents today.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: UncleVinny · CC BY 3.0
Population
16,335
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$447K
+1.2% in a year
Household income
$96K
median
Median age
39.7
years
Jobs based here
1,990
A commuter town
TownGrade
C
#335 of 841 in CA
Is Rio Linda a good place to live?
Cost of living is its weak spot — the typical home is worth about $447K, 4.6 years of the Sacramento metro’s $97K median household income. Rio Linda’s overall C puts it 335th of 841 in California. That leaves it better than 35% of U.S. towns. Its best grade is for walkability: it is more walkable than 79% of U.S. towns. Only 29 of California’s 1,064 towns score higher on hazard risk. The rest of its grades are middling: C+ for schools, B− for health and B for incomes.
Figures: home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · FEMA National Risk Index · schools, state test and graduation results · health, CDC PLACES.
What makes Rio Linda stand out
Where Rio Linda beats most towns.
A commuter town
94% of working residents leave Rio Linda for work
Where Rio Linda’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,990jobs based in Rio Linda
6%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Rio Linda grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Rio Linda is from typical.
Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesC−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.1 of 20; 3.4% of households have no carA−Open →Jobs & income$96K median household incomeBOpen →Hazard riskInland flooding tops the listBOpen →SchoolsBased on how pupils do in exams and testsC+Open →HealthKaiser Foundation Hospital - Sacramento 6.5 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Housing market10 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 39.7; 16% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 54 attractions →ARCO Arena and 32 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Rio Linda. Close and well known come first.
5 mi Stadium & arenaARCO Arena
8 mi State parkSutter's Fort
8 mi State parkGovernor's Mansion State Historic Park
9 mi Stadium & arenaHornet Stadium
8 mi MuseumCalifornia State Railroad Museum500K visitors a year
8 mi State parkLeland Stanford Mansion State Historic ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
ARCO Arena: CLopez63, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sutter's Fort: Ian Howard, CC BY 2.5 · Governor's Mansion State Historic Park: Mark James Miller, CC BY 3.0 · Hornet Stadium: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0 · California State Railroad Museum: The original uploader was Swampyank at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park: M.Mierzwa. MCalamari at en.wikipedia, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Getting set up
Moving to Rio Linda: who provides what
Rio Linda is unincorporated, so Sacramento County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerSacramento Municipal Util Dist18.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRio Linda/Elverta Community Water DistNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesSacramento CountySacramento County provides services here
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 hereCounty of Sacramento Voter Registration and ElectionsSacramento County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2025
ZIP code9567395673 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 Linda.
Rio Linda carries less natural-hazard risk than nearly all of California (mostly inland flooding) and has hotter summers than nearly all U.S. towns, but it trails even towns with similar incomes on health.
HousingCost of living grade C−
For cost of living, Rio Linda earns a C−
Homes sold in Rio Linda spent a median 10 days on the market. The town’s going rate for rent stands at $1,839 a month, against $1,898 a month in California’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns. The typical Rio Linda home is worth about $447,000, up 1.2% in a year, 41% below the California typical home.
$447KZillow home value
| Rio Linda | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,839 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 73% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Rio Linda$447K
California$762K
Market temperature
10
days on market
101%
sale-to-list price
+1.2%
value change, 1 year
12
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsC+
Rio Linda’s schools rank behind 58% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the Twin Rivers Unified school district. Two of the 7 schools are below, and why each made the list. The largest public high school is Rio Linda High, with 1,594 students.
42%of CA districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Creek ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–6 | Grades K–6 | 645 | – |
| Rio Linda HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,594 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Rio Linda has 0.3 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Jobs based here grew from 1,187 in 2013 to 1,990.
14% of Rio Linda residents live below the poverty line, above both the California town median (10%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Most working residents leave Rio Linda for work: only 6% work in town. The town had 1,990 jobs in 2023, up 803 from 2013. The top destinations are Sacramento (24%), Roseville (6%) and Rancho Cordova (3%).
6%work in town
| Rio Linda | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 14% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $96,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.6% | 6.6% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Rio Linda6%
Sacramento24%
Roseville6%
Rancho Cordova3%
North Highlands3%
10 mi
median commute distance
1,990
jobs based in Rio Linda
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 79% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Rio Linda: mild winters and hot summers
July afternoons average 95°, hotter than in 96% of U.S. towns; January nights average 39.2°.
Snow almost never falls. The July high here is 95°F.
95°summer high
| Rio Linda | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 95°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 39°F | 41°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter40–58°
Spring49–74°
Summer60–93°
Fall51–78°
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
95°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Top of a low hazard risk in Rio Linda: inland flooding
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk lower than 96% of California towns, with expected losses of about $131 per resident a year; that rating is what its B for hazard risk is built on.
Rio Linda has had 205 paid flood insurance claims since 1978. In Rio Linda, the FEMA risk score is 38 of 100. Also worth knowing: households here have drawn federal disaster aid in 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2022. Expected losses in Rio Linda break down as 64% from inland flooding and 30% from earthquakes.
38risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakes
205
paid flood claims since 1978
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
OutdoorsB+
In Rio Linda, 9.2% of the land is conserved
Trails total 2.3 miles in 3 parks and preserves. Rio Linda’s density of trails comes in at 0.2 miles per square mile. Parks and preserves here: 3, covering 34 acres.
#634for trails in CA
| Rio Linda | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 9.2% | 4.2% | 4.3% |
9.2%
conserved · 582 of 6,318 acres
2.3 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rio Linda Central PArk | 0.2 mi | 16 |
| 2. Depot Park | — | 10 |
| 3. Westside Park | — | 8 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthB−
On CDC estimates, Rio Linda is less healthy than 51% of U.S. towns
Against the 9,120 U.S. towns with household incomes like Rio Linda’s, it is less healthy than 71%, so it trails even them.
Among adults in Rio Linda, 25% have been diagnosed with depression. 39% of adults in Rio Linda feel lonely; 19% report frequent mental distress.
49%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Rio Linda | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 69% | 72% | 79% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 36% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 17% | 17% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 22% | 23% |
32 measures vs. California
0 better24 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Rio Linda | CA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 6.8% | 5.1% |
| More smokers | 14.3% | 10.9% |
| More adults with depression | 25.4% | 20.1% |
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Sacramento
6.5 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
36th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Rio Linda
18pages on Rio Linda
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
8 within 15 miles of the center of Rio Linda
Epic Bible College & Graduate SchoolUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Sacramento5.2 mi$15,072 tuitionAmerican River CollegeCommunity college · Public · Sacramento5.6 mi$1,288 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-SacramentoUniversity or college · Public · Sacramento8.9 mi$8,018 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Rio Linda residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About Rio Linda
Census-designated place in California, United States
Rio Linda (Spanish: Río Linda, meaning "Pretty River") is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sacramento County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the CDP population was 15,944, up from 15,106 at the time of the 2010 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 9.9 sq mi
- Elevation
- 56 ft
- ZIP code
- 95673
Rio Linda’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Rio Linda.
It grades higher overall than all 3 graded towns on its borders; North Highlands (C) comes closest.
McClellan ParkElvertaSacramentoNorth HighlandsRio Linda
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Linda | #335 | C | C− | — | C+ | B− |
| McClellan Park | — | — | D− | — | C+ | C− |
| Elverta | #463 | C− | C− | — | B− | B− |
| Sacramento | #509 | C− | D | D | B− | B |
| North Highlands | #442 | C | C | — | B− | C |
McClellan Park has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Rio Linda, McClellan Park, Elverta and North Highlands report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Rio Linda with a neighbor →
Questions about Rio Linda
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Rio Linda, CA a good place to live?
Rio Linda grades C overall, better than 35% of U.S. towns and #335 of 841 in California. It grades B− for health and C+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Rio Linda, 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−.