Cost of Living

Cost of Living

According to Sperling’s Best Places, the cost of living in Tehama County is lower than many other places in California.

Housing

• Housing in Tehama County is very affordable, and there are a number of different types of properties available, from a home in the town of Red Bluff or Corning, living on the river in Tehama, a planned gated community in Cottonwood, or a ranch.
• As of May 2017, the average home price in Tehama County was $203,000.  Compared with a statewide average of $550,200, $375,000 in Riverside County, or $255,000 in Shasta County.

Population

Tehama County is currently home to 63,276 according to the US Census Bureau.

Veterans

Tehama County is a patriotic small community, where people still like to put flags out to honor holidays and residents have a strong history of serving their Country. In Tehama County, 12% of residents are veterans, contrasted with a statewide average of 7%.

The Arts

The communites in Tehama County offer a rich culture of art and entertainment.

Our Communities

• Bend
• Capay
• Corning
• Cottonwood (part)
• Flournoy
• Gerber-Las Flores
• Kirkwood
• Lake California
• Los Molinos
• Manton  Mill Creek
• Mineral
• Paskenta
• Paynes Creek
• Proberta
• Rancho Tehama Reserve
• Red Bluff
• Ritchfield
• Tehama
• Vina

Educational Attainment

• Tehama County residents have a good education foundation, with 81% of residents holding a high school diploma or higher education, which is on par with California as a whole.
• Tehama County residents have a higher rate of high school graduates when compared to California, with 29% of Tehama County residents holding a high school diploma or equivalency, and 21% of California residents with the same level of education.

Programs & Campaigns Aimed at College & Career Readiness

• Safe Education & Recreation for Rural Families The SERRF Expanded Learning Program provides 1800 kindergarten through eighth grade students instruction in academics, enrichment and recreation in coordination with schools to support the Common Core Learning Standards. SERRF operates everyday school is in session from school release time until 6 PM. SERRF serves all twenty-five Tehama County elementary and middle schools, including small, isolated rural school sites. More information is available here: Resource Link
• Expect More Tehama Expect More Tehama is about continuous improvement in an environment not stuck on the past, and not willing to lay blame, justify or pass responsibility but instead seek solutions and reasons to support and celebrate. More information is available here: Resource Link
• Tehama Reads! Tehama Reads! is a community based literacy campaign with the vision of every child in Tehama county reading at or above grade level by third grade. Tehama Reads, in conjunction with Expect More Tehama, community organizations, local businesses and schools, will be working collaboratively to ensure that all students are provided with the opportunity to achieve high academic performance standards in reading. More information is available here: Resource Link
• Tehama County Mentoring Program Tehama County Mentoring Program is a joint effort of public agencies, community organizations, law enforcement, schools and interested individuals from across Tehama County. Mentoring a child can be a magical, life changing experience for both the child and adult mentor. Our goals are to provide Tehama County youth with positive adult role models and the additional support every child needs to make successful life choices, and to offer a rewarding opportunity for community members to enrich the lives of young people by sharing their wisdom and experiences. More information is available here: Resource Link

Strategically Located

Red Bluff is strategically located on Interstate 5 providing direct one day access between Seattle and Los Angeles. Locating in Tehama County provides low cost access to California’s built in market of 38 million consumers, when contrasted with many other areas of California.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,962 square miles (7,670 km2), of which 2,950 square miles (7,600 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (0.4%) is water. Watercourses in Tehama County include Dye Creek and Payne's Creek. The county is intersected by Sacramento River. A small part of Lassen Volcanic National Park extends into the northeast corner of the county.

Roadway Infrustructure

Located on Interstate 5 Between Seattle and Los Angeles

Located in the upper Sacramento Region, equal distance from Los Angeles and Seattle, Tehama County is a central hub for both interstate and intrastate highway systems. Interstate 5, which travels from the Canadian border to the Mexican border, bisects the County. State Highway 99E connects Tehama County to the east side of the Sacramento Valley through the communities of Chico, Yuba City, and on to Sacramento. State Highway 36 has connections east to Susanville and on to Reno via State Highway 395, as well as connections to the Pacific Coast to the West. A short distance to the north, via Interstate 5, additional connections to the west (Humboldt Bay) and northeast are provided by State Highway 299 

Commute Time

Tired of fighting traffic? Getting around in Tehama County is simple and hassle free. Average travel time to work is 23 minutes compared to a statewide average of 27 minutes to get to work or 29 minutes in Los Angeles.

Railways

Hauling Opportunities through Tehama County Served by Two Single-Track Union Pacific Lines

Tehama County is served by two single-track Union Pacific (UP) rail lines including the primary Union Pacific line between Sacramento and Portland, Oregon.  The main line enters the County from the southeast parallel to Highway 99E, turns north near Red Bluff and exits the County along Interstate 5 at Cottonwood.

The second line (formerly California Northern) is a secondary line that enters the County from the south along Interstate 5 and connects with the primary line at the City of Tehama.

Tehama County is attentive to freight hauling opportunities because of the Union Pacific lines.  A large portion of the county’s industrial land uses are located near or adjacent to the UP mainline.  The County looks at ways to protect and expand rail spurs and service lines to enhance the viability and utility of designated industrial properties.

Policies in the Tehama County General Plan support the retention and expansion of freight-rail opportunities in the County.

Airport

Plenty of Available Runway Space

Tehama County is served by municipal airports in the Cities of Red Bluff and Corning. Both airports have paved runways and plenty of available runway space.

Tehama County is served by the Red Bluff Municipal Airport, owned by the City of Red Bluff. This airport has plenty of available runway space, and averages just under eighty flights per day.

The Redding Municipal Airport (6751 Woodrum Cir, Redding, CA 96002) is conveniently located just 30 miles north of Tehama County via Interstate 5, and offers daily service to San Francisco, Eureka and Portland, Oregon.

The Sacramento International Airport is just over 100 miles from Tehama County via Interstate 5 and provides daily flights throughout the United States as well as internationally from a variety of carriers.