2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Paonia, CO vs Big Bear Lake, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
- Household income in Big Bear Lake, is 22% more than it is in Paonia and is 5% below the National Average.
- Paonia unemployment rate is 6.6%.
- Big Bear Lake unemployment rate is 7.8%.
 Paonia, COBig Bear Lake, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock7.8%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock2.3%1.6%
 Future Job Growth51.3%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes4.9%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$37,912  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$65,441$69,021
 Family Median Income$69,167  Unlock$85,028
 space
 Est. Households By Income
 Paonia, COBig Bear Lake, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock10.7%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K10.2%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock6.8%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K6.7%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock6.8%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K6.6%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock8.1%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K12.5%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock14.6%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K2.1%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock10.1%9.5%
 space1
 Population By Occupation
 Paonia, COBig Bear Lake, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance16.0%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock1.1%6.5%
 Community, social services9.0%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.9%1.2%
 Education, library9.7%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock3.2%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology5.9%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock2.2%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement0.0%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock6.0%5.4%
 Building maintenance2.3%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock3.8%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support14.3%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.0%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair7.2%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock15.6%13.1%
Reviews for Paonia    3 Reviews

Paonia is Colorado’s best kept secret... amazing food, climate and scenery. Close to ski resorts and big city amenities, but isolated and charming. The town is safe and  More

   |    Reply

I have lived just outside of Paonia for 35 years. The area is pretty, but jobs are scarce. Used to be mostly 'down to earth' farmers and ranchers and coal miners  More

   |    Reply

Over 16 years ago

"Mayberry in the Mountains" (Paonia and surrounding 8 mesas) population 6,600; median housing pricing is $164,207 (2007); average commute is less than 10 minutes;  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Paonia

Reviews for Big Bear Lake    5 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

We moved to Big Bear Lake a couple of years ago from Los Angeles because of my husband's job. It is a somewhat pretty city, the lake is mirky and surrounded by trash,  More

   |    Reply

Over 15 years ago

Big Bear Lake, a beautiful setting in a remote mountain community in Southern California. A draw to tourists from the Los Angeles area for skiing, boating, and mountain  More

   |    Reply

In the San Bernardino mountains of Southern California, this little town has almost everything you would want to see and do. In the spring and summer the lake is filled  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Big Bear Lake


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.