Lake California is a community in Tehama County, California, home to about 3,808 people across 6.3 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 96022.
Homes sold for a median of $261 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a balanced market.
Mostly Cottonwood (Tehama County); part is in Lake California
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Lake California. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Lake California’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Sacramento International Airport (SMF)122 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Redding Municipal Airport (RDD)10 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Sacramento, CA133 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Los Angeles, CA489 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Lake California; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Lake California had 3,377 residents in the 2020 census, up 11% since 2010.
It’s the 719th largest of 1,563 towns in California by population.
Tehama County grew from 10,996 residents in 1900 to 65,829 in 2020.
Tehama County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 100°F in summer, and winter lows average 37°F. About 33.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 3 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Redding Muni Ap, CA weather station (10 miles away).
13,620 jobs at 999 businesses in Tehama County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
29 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Lake California.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 6 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 1 |
| Dentists | 1 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 4 |
| Mental health providers | 11 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 3 |
| Optometrists | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 2 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Grocery stores
Pharmacies
Libraries
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Cottonwood Creek Charter District, Evergreen Union, Cottonwood Union Elementary and others. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Creek CharterCottonwood | K–8 | 294 | Charter | 3.3 mi |
| Evergreen Community Day School (K-5)Cottonwood | K–5 | 2 | Alternative Education | 0.8 mi |
| Evergreen ElementaryCottonwood | K–4 | 541 | Public | 1.0 mi |
| Evergreen Institute of ExcellenceCottonwood | K–12 | 184 | Charter | 0.8 mi |
| North CottonwoodCottonwood | K–4 | 498 | Public | 1.9 mi |
| Evergreen Community Day School (5-8)Cottonwood | 5–8 | 3 | Alternative Education | 0.8 mi |
| Evergreen MiddleCottonwood | 5–8 | 399 | Public | 0.8 mi |
| West Cottonwood Junior HighCottonwood | 5–8 | 419 | Public | 2.7 mi |
| West Valley Early College HighCottonwood | 9–12 | 736 | Public | 4.0 mi |
| Cottonwood PreschoolCottonwood | — | — | Public | 1.9 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Cottonwood (Tehama County).
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.