Median Income
$71,278
household / year
Median Home Value
$328,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,250
gross / month
Cost of Living
105
national avg = 100

Is Pioneer, CA a Good Place to Live?

Pioneer is a small town of 1,322 in California, with a median household income of $71,278 and a 6.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 105 (US average = 100), which is 5% above the national average.

Strengths: Pioneer's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Pioneer is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Pioneer city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 105.2

Pioneer's overall cost of living index is 105.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Pioneer costs roughly 5% more than the average American city.

Metric Pioneer, CA National Avg
Median Home Value $328,900 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,250 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 89.0% 65.9%
Median Household Income $71,278 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Pioneer's violent crime rate is 354.7 per 100,000 residents — 7% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
354.7 /100k
Property Crime
1013.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Pioneer is served primarily by Amador County Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Pioneer, CA National Avg
School District Amador County Unified —
Elementary Schools 6 —
Middle Schools 2 —
High Schools 3 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 22.2:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.1% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 96.1% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Pioneer sees average highs of 54.8°F in January and 93.4°F in July, with 40.6 inches of annual precipitation and 3.7 inches of snow per year.

MetricPioneer, CA
Average High — January54.8°F
Average High — July93.4°F
Annual Precipitation40.6"
Annual Snowfall3.7"

Demographics

MetricPioneer, CANational Avg
Population1,322—
Median Age58.838.9
Unemployment Rate6.3%3.7%
Avg Commute Time35.6 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)93.1%59.3%
Black or African American0.4%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino6.4%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1816.3%22.2%
65 and over30.7%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Red Corral, CA 2 mi Volcano, CA 2 mi Buckhorn, CA 3 mi West Point, CA 3 mi Lockwood CDP (Amador County), CA 4 mi

Pioneer vs Other Cities

Pioneer, CA vs Red Corral, CA Pioneer, CA vs Volcano, CA Pioneer, CA vs Buckhorn, CA Pioneer, CA vs West Point, CA Pioneer, CA vs Lockwood CDP (Amador County), CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Pioneer's cost of living index is 105, where 100 is the national average. That puts Pioneer roughly 5% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $328,900 and median rent is $1,250/month.
Pioneer's violent crime rate is 354.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1013.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Pioneer are operated by Amador County Unified. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.2:1. 15.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Pioneer, CA has a population of 1,322, a median household income of $71,278, and an unemployment rate of 6.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Pioneer averages 54.8°F in January and 93.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.6 inches with about 3.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Pioneer, California is 1,322 with a median age of 58.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Pioneer: cost of living index 105 (100 = US average), median home $328,900, median household income $71,278, crime index 75 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pioneer side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.