2026 editionWestPop. 39,355,309Capital Sacramento31st state, admitted 1850Cook PVI D+15
Is California a Good Place to Live? California Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes
California ranks #47 of 50 with a composite score of 40.2 and a D grade, strongest in health (#5) and weakest in growth (#50). The median household earns $100,149 (24% above the national median), homes typically cost $764,158 (107% above the national average), and violent crime is 433 per 100,000 (32% above the national average).
California is affordable for two kinds of households: high earners, and owners who bought decades ago under the assessment cap, since buying the typical home takes $197,262 of income against a median of $100,149. Everyone else faces a tax burden of 11%, 2.3 points above the national average, plus wildfire insurance that private carriers decline to write.
California by the numbers
Six measures every state is judged on, each with California's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.
Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.
Read the California overview
California scores above the national average in 2 of 11 categories and ranks #12 of 13 states in the West, behind 11 regional neighbors. Its biggest edge over the country is median household income ($100,149, 24% above the national median); its biggest shortfall is typical home value ($764,158, 107% above the national average). That mix of top-10 finishes (1) and bottom-10 finishes (4) is why the composite alone undersells the tradeoffs a mover here faces.
Where does California rank in each category?
All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. California is top 10 in 1 and bottom 10 in 4.
| Category | Score | Rank | Grade | Weight | US avg | The numbers behind it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 41.5 | #34 of 50 | C+ | 15% | 47.1 | Its unemployment rate is 5.5% and median household income is $100,149. |
| Safety | 54.7 | #43 of 50 | D | 12% | 68.9 | The FBI estimates 432.7 violent crimes and 1,792.2 property crimes per 100,000 residents. |
| Health | 77.6 | #5 of 50 | A+ | 12% | 54.4 | Life expectancy is 79.3 years, 29.1% of adults have obesity, and 5.9% of residents are uninsured. |
| Education | 51.7 | #37 of 50 | C | 12% | 57.5 | Eighth graders average 269 in NAEP math and 254 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 87%. |
| Affordability | 14.3 | #49 of 50 | F | 10% | 65.2 | Typical home value $764,158 (7.6x median income); cost of living index 110.7 (100 = US); center-based infant care $23,071 a year. |
| Fiscal Health | 47.5 | #40 of 50 | C | 8% | 58.1 | It carries $4,180 of debt per resident, has 72% of pensions funded, and holds a AA- credit rating. |
| Growth | 6.1 | #50 of 50 | F | 7% | 38.8 | Population shrank 0.02% last year; Census net domestic migration is -5.8 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series). |
| Transportation | 46.0 | #35 of 50 | C | 7% | 49.8 | The average commute is 29.7 minutes, 3.3% of workers use public transit, and 14.1% work from home. |
| Livability | 31.7 | #27 of 50 | C+ | 7% | 34.3 | It has 2.025 restaurants and 0.046 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.085 bars and 0.055 social associations per 1,000. |
| Outdoor Access | 40.8 | #12 of 50 | B+ | 6% | 29.4 | 45.8% of its land is public, with 1.86 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents. |
| Environment | 24.7 | #47 of 50 | D | 4% | 42.5 | Its median air quality index is 48, 52% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 56.3. |
Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.
Category shape
California's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; California bulges toward health and dips at growth.
How expensive is California?
California's cost of living index is 110.7 against a national baseline of 100, 11% above the national average and #50 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $764,158 (107% above the national average); buying it takes an income of about $197,262, $97,113 more than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, Merced is cheapest (index 98.3) and Novato priciest (115.6).
Housing market snapshot · August
Hot marketRanked #2 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #49 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household is $97,113 short of the income needed to buy the typical home.
Full California housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →What a household keeps at $75,000
| Household | California | Median state | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare | −$59,997 | −$11,758 | #48 of 50 |
| Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare | +$12,129 | +$31,418 | #49 of 50 |
| Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax | +$14,276 | +$35,970 | #49 of 50 |
Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.
What are taxes like in California?
California's tax mix is high income tax, high sales tax, with property tax in the middle of the pack. The total state and local tax burden comes to 11% of income, 2.3 points above the national average (#47 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 0.71% of home value (#15), and combined sales tax averages 8.99% (#44).
Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.
Can the state pay its bills?
Fiscal health scores 47.5 out of 100, #40 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.
Is California safe?
California reports 433 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 32% above the national average and #44 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 1,792 per 100,000, 17% above the national average (#40 of 50). The safety score is 54.7 out of 100, #43 of 50; among tracked cities, Yorba Linda has the lowest violent crime rate.
California vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents
FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida and North Dakota use the FBI's prior-year estimate because their latest year is based on limited data.
Safest tracked cities in California
| City | Population | Violent / 100K | Property / 100K |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorba Linda | 67,170 | 47 | 595 |
| Eastvale | 70,633 | 52 | 1,277 |
| Cupertino | 58,566 | 70 | 1,452 |
| Chino Hills | 77,927 | 73 | 735 |
| Irvine | 311,690 | 79 | 1,155 |
Lowest violent crime among the 188 California cities we track with 50,000 or more residents. City rates come from each city's police agency and are not strictly comparable across agencies.
What is the job market like in California?
California's unemployment rate is 5.5%, 1.5 points above the national average and #50 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $100,149, 24% above the national median. Real GDP grew +2.8% in the latest year (#10 of 50) and GDP per capita is $88,370, 37% above the national average. The population is shrinking 0.02% a year, 0.5 points below the national average. The economy score is 41.5 out of 100, #34 of 50.
Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.
Highest-paying tracked occupations in California, adjusted for cost of living
| Occupation | Cost-adjusted | Median wage | Metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $278,539 | $314,749 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley |
| Lawyers | $226,574 | $256,029 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley |
| Software Developers | $213,666 | $241,443 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley |
| Registered Nurses | $139,711 | $157,873 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $127,177 | $143,710 | San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.
How are California's schools and healthcare?
California's education score is 51.7 out of 100, #37 of 50. Eighth graders average 269 in NAEP math (#36 of 50) and 254 in reading (#38 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 87%, 1.4 points above the national average (#23 of 50).
California is #5 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 79.3 years, 2.4 years above the national average. 29.1% of adults have obesity (#6 of 50) and 5.9% of residents have no health insurance (#16 of 50). The health score is 77.6 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.
CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.
Who is moving to California, and who is leaving?
California lost a net 100,397 households to other states in the latest IRS release: 252,863 moved in and 353,260 moved out, -2.6 per 1,000 residents (#49 of 50). Arriving households report an average income of $95,523 against $102,120 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net -254.3K people (406.9K in, 661.2K out, ±29.5K), consistent with the IRS direction.
Where they come from
- 1Texas24,970 · $95,486
- 2New York18,440 · $153,927
- 3Washington17,871 · $116,237
- 4Arizona16,283 · $75,193
- 5Nevada14,775 · $79,370
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.
Where they go
- 1Texas44,417 · $107,273
- 2Arizona28,402 · $87,556
- 3Nevada26,210 · $102,572
- 4Washington24,625 · $111,507
- 5New York20,595 · $137,456
Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households left for these states in the latest IRS release.
Where should you live in California?
By composite score, the best of the 188 California cities we track are Palo Alto (70.9), Sunnyvale (69.3), and Cupertino (68.3). Merced is the cheapest (cost index 98.3), Cupertino the richest ($234,707), and Folsom the fastest growing (+4.1% a year). City ranks are among the 188 California cities we cover, not every city in the state.
Standout cities in California
| Best for | City | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Safest | Yorba Linda | 47 violent crimes per 100K |
| Cheapest | Merced | cost of living index 98.3 |
| Most walkable | Santa Monica | walkability 16.3 of 20 |
| Cleanest air | Santa Rosa | median AQI 9 (county) |
| Best schools | San Ramon | 98% graduation rate |
| Richest | Cupertino | $234,707 |
Among the 188 California cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.
Regions of California
The highest wages and home prices in the state, with long commutes across the bridges; Fremont and San Jose are the family suburbs, Oakland the cheaper, rougher core.
Dense, car-bound and priced by distance to the coast: Irvine and Santa Clarita for schools and safety, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Anaheim and Santa Ana for the jobs.
Milder than Los Angeles in weather and pace, with Navy and biotech payrolls; Chula Vista is the affordable half, and the border crossing is part of daily life.
Where coastal families go for a house they can afford, in exchange for warehouse-district air, hot summers and commutes of an hour or more into Los Angeles or Orange County.
Farm country and the state capital, with the cheapest homes in the state, the worst summer air and the highest unemployment; Sacramento is the government town, Bakersfield the oil town.
All 188 tracked cities, best to worst
| # | City | Grade | Score | Population | Income | Violent / 100K | Cost index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto | A+ | 70.9 | 67,237 | $231,101 | 159 | 110.4 |
| 2 | Sunnyvale | A+ | 69.3 | 154,236 | $186,170 | 188 | 110.4 |
| 3 | Cupertino | A+ | 68.3 | 58,566 | $234,707 | 70 | 110.4 |
| 4 | Santa Clara | A+ | 68.1 | 130,256 | $178,958 | 172 | 110.4 |
| 5 | Folsom | A+ | 68.0 | 83,916 | $139,804 | 161 | 106.7 |
| 6 | San Mateo | A+ | 67.1 | 103,105 | $153,504 | 168 | 115.6 |
| 7 | Dublin | A | 66.5 | 70,803 | $214,385 | 146 | 115.6 |
| 8 | Pleasanton | A | 65.2 | 76,960 | $190,124 | 123 | 115.6 |
| 9 | Mountain View | A | 65.1 | 83,732 | $189,917 | 208 | 110.4 |
| 10 | Encinitas | A | 65.1 | 61,480 | $162,229 | 108 | 111.9 |
| 11 | Newport Beach | A | 64.8 | 83,845 | $156,867 | 251 | 113.6 |
| 12 | Rocklin | A | 64.8 | 73,327 | $124,168 | 122 | 106.7 |
| 13 | San Ramon | A | 64.5 | 85,993 | $196,161 | 92 | 115.6 |
| 14 | Fremont | A | 64.2 | 228,295 | $181,506 | 106 | 115.6 |
| 15 | El Dorado Hills | A | 64.2 | 51,026 | $165,349 | — | 106.7 |
| 16 | San Francisco | A | 64.1 | 830,235 | $140,970 | 486 | 115.6 |
| 17 | Laguna Niguel | A | 64.1 | 64,139 | $140,452 | 114 | 113.6 |
| 18 | Redwood City | A | 64.0 | 82,447 | $157,814 | 369 | 115.6 |
| 19 | Roseville | A | 63.6 | 155,955 | $119,288 | 191 | 106.7 |
| 20 | Aliso Viejo | A | 63.6 | 51,113 | $142,439 | 120 | 113.6 |
| 21 | Irvine | A | 63.4 | 311,690 | $136,719 | 79 | 113.6 |
| 22 | Elk Grove | A | 63.3 | 179,155 | $125,924 | 161 | 106.7 |
| 23 | Livermore | A | 63.2 | 85,522 | $160,775 | 175 | 115.6 |
| 24 | Yorba Linda | B+ | 62.9 | 67,170 | $157,582 | 47 | 113.6 |
| 25 | South San Francisco | B+ | 62.8 | 64,305 | $136,578 | 309 | 115.6 |
| 26 | Thousand Oaks | B+ | 62.3 | 125,205 | $135,603 | 127 | 110.5 |
| 27 | Mission Viejo | B+ | 62.2 | 92,151 | $136,123 | 119 | 113.6 |
| 28 | Castro Valley | B+ | 62.1 | 65,001 | $142,779 | — | 115.6 |
| 29 | San Clemente | B+ | 62.1 | 63,273 | $140,062 | 166 | 113.6 |
| 30 | Daly City | B+ | 62.0 | 101,964 | $123,547 | 254 | 115.6 |
| 31 | Lake Forest | B+ | 61.9 | 86,281 | $135,175 | 165 | 113.6 |
| 32 | Petaluma | B+ | 61.4 | 59,247 | $115,430 | 228 | 107.8 |
| 33 | Carlsbad | B+ | 61.2 | 114,373 | $142,748 | 212 | 111.9 |
| 34 | Redondo Beach | B+ | 60.7 | 69,291 | $150,245 | 239 | 113.6 |
| 35 | Eastvale | B+ | 60.5 | 70,633 | $160,069 | 52 | 106.4 |
| 36 | Placentia | B+ | 60.3 | 52,826 | $115,929 | 245 | 113.6 |
| 37 | Huntington Beach | B+ | 60.0 | 195,240 | $120,919 | 182 | 113.6 |
| 38 | Simi Valley | B+ | 59.9 | 125,634 | $122,081 | 136 | 110.5 |
| 39 | Alameda | B+ | 59.9 | 77,238 | $137,697 | 348 | 115.6 |
| 40 | San Jose | B+ | 59.7 | 990,138 | $146,427 | 505 | 110.4 |
| 41 | Novato | B+ | 59.6 | 52,546 | $115,736 | 211 | 115.6 |
| 42 | Orange | B+ | 59.4 | 138,266 | $117,113 | 196 | 113.6 |
| 43 | Walnut Creek | B+ | 59.1 | 70,088 | $130,432 | 217 | 115.6 |
| 44 | Fountain Valley | B+ | 59.0 | 56,258 | $115,237 | 176 | 113.6 |
| 45 | Milpitas | B | 58.6 | 78,578 | $178,798 | 237 | 110.4 |
| 46 | Costa Mesa | B | 58.2 | 110,330 | $111,505 | 543 | 113.6 |
| 47 | Santa Rosa | B | 58.0 | 177,090 | $99,060 | 292 | 107.8 |
| 48 | San Rafael | B | 58.0 | 60,433 | $119,435 | 365 | 115.6 |
| 49 | Rancho Cordova | B | 57.8 | 81,849 | $89,585 | 507 | 106.7 |
| 50 | Arcadia | B | 57.8 | 55,170 | $113,516 | 198 | 113.6 |
| 51 | Davis | B | 57.6 | 66,978 | $90,045 | 191 | 106.7 |
| 52 | Union City | B | 57.5 | 67,464 | $133,715 | 453 | 115.6 |
| 53 | Tustin | B | 57.3 | 78,981 | $112,503 | 216 | 113.6 |
| 54 | Brentwood | B | 57.3 | 65,208 | $142,494 | 202 | 115.6 |
| 55 | Berkeley | B | 57.1 | 120,257 | $108,092 | 639 | 115.6 |
| 56 | Tracy | B | 57.1 | 96,966 | $121,119 | 194 | 105.1 |
| 57 | Woodland | B | 57.1 | 61,854 | $90,180 | 181 | 106.7 |
| 58 | San Diego | B | 57.0 | 1,389,526 | $108,077 | 374 | 111.9 |
| 59 | Clovis | B | 57.0 | 124,725 | $99,241 | 261 | 102.2 |
| 60 | Chino Hills | B | 57.0 | 77,927 | $126,334 | 73 | 106.4 |
| 61 | West Sacramento | B | 57.0 | 54,927 | $93,188 | 327 | 106.7 |
| 62 | Vacaville | B | 56.9 | 102,596 | $111,126 | 264 | 108.5 |
| 63 | Beaumont | B | 56.9 | 56,266 | $107,118 | 216 | 106.4 |
| 64 | San Buenaventura (Ventura) | B | 56.8 | 109,857 | $103,069 | 351 | 110.5 |
| 65 | Lincoln | B | 56.8 | 52,956 | $111,990 | — | 106.7 |
| 66 | Temecula | B | 56.6 | 111,167 | $121,063 | 152 | 106.4 |
| 67 | Redlands | B | 56.4 | 73,375 | $105,041 | 272 | 106.4 |
| 68 | Torrance | B | 56.3 | 142,130 | $116,217 | 306 | 113.6 |
| 69 | Camarillo | B | 56.2 | 70,186 | $113,428 | 144 | 110.5 |
| 70 | Gilroy | B | 56.0 | 59,004 | $133,107 | 406 | 110.4 |
| 71 | Murrieta | B | 55.9 | 112,064 | $114,081 | 186 | 106.4 |
| 72 | Buena Park | B | 55.9 | 82,871 | $110,550 | 281 | 113.6 |
| 73 | Glendora | B | 55.9 | 50,926 | $113,569 | 188 | 113.6 |
| 74 | Santa Ana | B | 55.8 | 312,534 | $93,999 | 337 | 113.6 |
| 75 | Santa Clarita | B | 55.8 | 230,221 | $123,062 | 173 | 113.6 |
| 76 | Rancho Cucamonga | B | 55.8 | 175,411 | $111,895 | 233 | 106.4 |
| 77 | Vista | C+ | 55.7 | 99,114 | $94,975 | 208 | 111.9 |
| 78 | Garden Grove | C+ | 55.6 | 170,964 | $92,174 | 239 | 113.6 |
| 79 | La Habra | C+ | 55.6 | 61,970 | $100,106 | 261 | 113.6 |
| 80 | Santa Cruz | C+ | 55.6 | 61,607 | $115,475 | 533 | 109.9 |
| 81 | Fontana | C+ | 55.5 | 214,169 | $102,821 | 244 | 106.4 |
| 82 | Covina | C+ | 55.5 | 49,888 | $98,671 | 285 | 113.6 |
| 83 | Santa Barbara | C+ | 55.4 | 87,779 | $106,182 | 634 | 108.8 |
| 84 | Lakewood | C+ | 54.9 | 79,850 | $119,177 | 356 | 113.6 |
| 85 | Chula Vista | C+ | 54.7 | 276,375 | $108,032 | 365 | 111.9 |
| 86 | Alhambra | C+ | 54.7 | 81,022 | $88,024 | 195 | 113.6 |
| 87 | Upland | C+ | 54.5 | 79,257 | $105,830 | 333 | 106.4 |
| 88 | Santa Monica | C+ | 54.3 | 91,169 | $114,885 | 618 | 113.6 |
| 89 | Citrus Heights | C+ | 54.3 | 86,995 | $82,314 | 380 | 106.7 |
| 90 | West Covina | C+ | 54.1 | 107,037 | $101,065 | 214 | 113.6 |
| 91 | Hacienda Heights | C+ | 54.1 | 54,291 | $109,193 | — | 113.6 |
| 92 | Diamond Bar | C+ | 54.1 | 53,355 | $108,281 | 124 | 113.6 |
| 93 | Fullerton | C+ | 53.8 | 140,968 | $104,286 | 358 | 113.6 |
| 94 | Pasadena | C+ | 53.5 | 136,969 | $105,192 | 419 | 113.6 |
| 95 | Manteca | C+ | 53.5 | 89,043 | $97,055 | 336 | 105.1 |
| 96 | Napa | C+ | 53.5 | 78,239 | $105,963 | 219 | 112.6 |
| 97 | Hayward | C+ | 53.4 | 158,801 | $113,318 | 460 | 115.6 |
| 98 | Corona | C+ | 53.3 | 159,670 | $109,242 | 239 | 106.4 |
| 99 | Chino | C+ | 53.3 | 92,652 | $104,682 | 324 | 106.4 |
| 100 | Oceanside | C+ | 53.2 | 172,242 | $97,737 | 385 | 111.9 |
| 101 | Escondido | C+ | 53.2 | 149,668 | $91,967 | 337 | 111.9 |
| 102 | Norwalk | C+ | 53.2 | 99,789 | $100,085 | 327 | 113.6 |
| 103 | Turlock | C+ | 53.1 | 72,502 | $82,995 | 357 | 104.1 |
| 104 | San Leandro | C+ | 52.8 | 87,826 | $101,420 | 506 | 115.6 |
| 105 | Monterey Park | C+ | 52.8 | 59,132 | $81,855 | 265 | 113.6 |
| 106 | Concord | C+ | 52.7 | 124,035 | $108,709 | 420 | 115.6 |
| 107 | Sacramento | C+ | 52.6 | 528,706 | $87,321 | 720 | 106.7 |
| 108 | Ontario | C | 52.4 | 180,547 | $88,941 | 244 | 106.4 |
| 109 | Jurupa Valley | C | 52.4 | 107,011 | $97,550 | 138 | 106.4 |
| 110 | Westminster | C | 52.4 | 89,860 | $85,541 | 334 | 113.6 |
| 111 | Carson City | C | 52.3 | 92,871 | $108,703 | 436 | 113.6 |
| 112 | Anaheim | C | 52.0 | 344,521 | $95,227 | 548 | 113.6 |
| 113 | Carmichael | C | 52.0 | 76,948 | $85,914 | — | 106.7 |
| 114 | San Marcos | C | 51.9 | 94,882 | $109,377 | — | 111.9 |
| 115 | Lake Elsinore | C | 51.9 | 72,461 | $101,888 | 116 | 106.4 |
| 116 | Menifee | C | 51.8 | 110,305 | $93,454 | 170 | 106.4 |
| 117 | Glendale | C | 51.7 | 190,748 | $88,393 | 234 | 113.6 |
| 118 | Downey | C | 51.7 | 110,939 | $90,699 | 300 | 113.6 |
| 119 | Oxnard | C | 51.5 | 200,928 | $96,212 | 557 | 110.5 |
| 120 | La Mesa | C | 51.3 | 60,797 | $95,028 | 397 | 111.9 |
| 121 | Palm Desert | C | 51.3 | 51,990 | $77,513 | 138 | 106.4 |
| 122 | Whittier | C | 51.2 | 86,165 | $97,201 | 395 | 113.6 |
| 123 | Fairfield | C | 51.1 | 120,785 | $101,895 | 522 | 108.5 |
| 124 | Cathedral City | C | 50.9 | 52,267 | $73,572 | 334 | 106.4 |
| 125 | Hanford | C | 50.8 | 59,754 | $76,461 | 345 | 101.6 |
| 126 | Burbank | C | 50.7 | 104,546 | $97,082 | 342 | 113.6 |
| 127 | Baldwin Park | C | 50.6 | 70,138 | $80,663 | 367 | 113.6 |
| 128 | Visalia | C | 50.5 | 143,939 | $81,989 | 415 | 99.8 |
| 129 | Yucaipa | C | 50.5 | 54,421 | $90,794 | 204 | 106.4 |
| 130 | South Whittier | C | 50.4 | 55,650 | $100,800 | — | 113.6 |
| 131 | Lodi | C | 50.3 | 67,607 | $88,530 | 493 | 105.1 |
| 132 | Redding | C | 50.2 | 93,409 | $70,466 | 735 | 100.7 |
| 133 | Pittsburg | C | 50.1 | 76,257 | $99,861 | 440 | 115.6 |
| 134 | Arden-Arcade | C | 50.0 | 94,994 | $77,321 | — | 106.7 |
| 135 | Rosemead | C | 49.8 | 50,013 | $73,566 | 356 | 113.6 |
| 136 | Montebello | C | 49.5 | 61,045 | $79,971 | 421 | 113.6 |
| 137 | Moreno Valley | C | 49.1 | 211,666 | $93,222 | 300 | 106.4 |
| 138 | Riverside | C | 49.0 | 319,069 | $91,045 | 535 | 106.4 |
| 139 | Indio | C | 49.0 | 91,950 | $77,167 | 266 | 106.4 |
| 140 | Perris | D | 48.8 | 80,511 | $88,911 | 271 | 106.4 |
| 141 | Santee | D | 48.8 | 59,332 | $113,394 | — | 111.9 |
| 142 | El Monte | D | 48.7 | 106,109 | $68,030 | 410 | 113.6 |
| 143 | Rialto | D | 48.5 | 104,143 | $88,857 | 583 | 106.4 |
| 144 | Chico | D | 48.5 | 102,188 | $66,977 | 664 | 101.2 |
| 145 | Yuba City | D | 48.5 | 69,471 | $75,477 | 399 | 104.2 |
| 146 | Highland | D | 48.4 | 56,675 | $77,120 | 490 | 106.4 |
| 147 | Colton | D | 48.2 | 53,772 | $71,208 | 345 | 106.4 |
| 148 | Gardena | D | 48.0 | 59,422 | $84,803 | 616 | 113.6 |
| 149 | Pico Rivera | D | 47.9 | 60,272 | $88,201 | 480 | 113.6 |
| 150 | Santa Maria | D | 47.8 | 110,462 | $84,746 | 624 | 108.8 |
| 151 | Bellflower | D | 47.8 | 76,819 | $78,722 | 579 | 113.6 |
| 152 | Los Angeles | D | 47.4 | 3,857,263 | $81,939 | 670 | 113.6 |
| 153 | Bakersfield | D | 47.4 | 411,986 | $80,540 | 496 | 100.9 |
| 154 | National City | D | 47.4 | 58,893 | $66,841 | 637 | 111.9 |
| 155 | Richmond | D | 47.2 | 115,505 | $95,391 | 814 | 115.6 |
| 156 | Modesto | D | 47.1 | 219,215 | $79,891 | 587 | 104.1 |
| 157 | Paramount | D | 47.1 | 52,050 | $75,250 | 641 | 113.6 |
| 158 | South Gate | D | 46.4 | 91,483 | $74,571 | 475 | 113.6 |
| 159 | San Jacinto | D | 46.4 | 55,180 | $80,647 | 319 | 106.4 |
| 160 | Oakland | D | 46.3 | 439,418 | $101,600 | 1,475 | 115.6 |
| 161 | Tulare | D | 46.3 | 70,945 | $72,410 | 477 | 99.8 |
| 162 | Pomona | D | 46.0 | 147,943 | $79,479 | 645 | 113.6 |
| 163 | Long Beach | D | 45.8 | 455,548 | $87,430 | 621 | 113.6 |
| 164 | Fresno | D | 45.5 | 545,970 | $70,991 | 720 | 102.2 |
| 165 | Vallejo | D | 45.3 | 124,268 | $90,171 | 778 | 108.5 |
| 166 | Watsonville | D | 44.9 | 51,712 | $78,393 | 415 | 109.9 |
| 167 | Salinas | D | 44.7 | 161,761 | $91,908 | 516 | 109 |
| 168 | El Cajon | D | 44.0 | 104,449 | $67,511 | 457 | 111.9 |
| 169 | Antioch | D | 43.8 | 116,477 | $97,465 | 762 | 115.6 |
| 170 | Madera | D | 43.6 | 67,831 | $63,933 | 432 | 102.2 |
| 171 | Delano | D | 43.4 | 51,679 | $67,010 | 331 | 100.9 |
| 172 | Hesperia | D | 43.3 | 100,775 | $72,160 | 463 | 106.4 |
| 173 | Hawthorne | D | 43.2 | 85,191 | $75,848 | 571 | 113.6 |
| 174 | Lynwood | D | 43.2 | 64,578 | $74,844 | 743 | 113.6 |
| 175 | Huntington Park | D | 43.2 | 53,108 | $59,996 | 510 | 113.6 |
| 176 | Stockton | D | 42.6 | 322,326 | $79,907 | 1,029 | 105.1 |
| 177 | Hemet | F | 42.3 | 91,326 | $57,719 | 398 | 106.4 |
| 178 | Merced | F | 42.1 | 91,953 | $63,122 | 700 | 98.3 |
| 179 | Porterville | F | 41.8 | 63,157 | $60,461 | 332 | 99.8 |
| 180 | Apple Valley | F | 41.4 | 75,473 | $69,882 | 485 | 106.4 |
| 181 | Palmdale | F | 41.3 | 164,634 | $81,770 | 483 | 113.6 |
| 182 | Inglewood | F | 41.3 | 104,569 | $72,750 | 684 | 113.6 |
| 183 | San Bernardino | F | 41.2 | 222,724 | $67,415 | 893 | 106.4 |
| 184 | East Los Angeles | F | 40.9 | 111,647 | $68,741 | — | 113.6 |
| 185 | Lancaster | F | 40.6 | 169,169 | $81,511 | 767 | 113.6 |
| 186 | Compton | F | 39.2 | 92,698 | $78,465 | 1,245 | 113.6 |
| 187 | Victorville | F | 38.6 | 137,627 | $74,410 | 740 | 106.4 |
| 188 | Florence-Graham | F | 37.9 | 60,690 | $65,132 | — | 113.6 |
Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 188 California cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.
Who is California best for?
The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best California cities for each.
Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →
How does California compare with its neighbors?
California ranks #47. Among its bordering states, Oregon ranks highest (#35) and Nevada lowest (#40). Nevada is the most similar on the composite score and Oregon the most different. Bordering states are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.
| State | Overall | Score | Median income | Typical home | Cost index | Violent crime | Tax burden | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | #47 | 40.2 | $100,149 | $764,158 | 110.7 | 433 | 11% | |
| Oregon | #35 | 50.9 | $85,220 | $496,113 | 103.4 | 311 | 9.06% | Compare → |
| Arizona | #38 | 47.8 | $81,486 | $417,990 | 100.7 | 378 | 8.22% | Compare → |
| Nevada | #40 | 45.8 | $81,134 | $442,027 | 100 | 379 | 8.62% | Compare → |
| United States | — | 57.9 | $80,903 | $368,697 | 100 | 328 | 8.74% |
Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.
How the score works
Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.
The weights
Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.
From raw numbers to scores
Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.
Letter grades
Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.
Cities, budgets and neighbors
The 188 California city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.
Editor's notes
Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.
Always the latest release
Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.
What the score cannot tell you
Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.
Category briefs
Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →
Key takeaways
What the California numbers say when read together.
Health is California's strongest suit
California is a #47 state overall but #5 of 50 for health, 42 places better than its composite rank, with a score of 77.6 against a national average of 54.4. Outdoor Access (#12) is next. Health carries 12% of the composite.
Growth is where California falls furthest behind
California ranks #50 of 50 for growth, 3 places below its overall #47, with a score of 6.1 against a national average of 38.8. At 7% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.
Median household income is 24% above the national median
California's median household income is $100,149, 24% above the national median of $80,903, #5 of 50 (1 = highest). The largest gap in the other direction is typical home value: $764,158, 107% above the national average. Source: Census Bureau ACS, latest release.
More households leave than arrive
California ranks #49 of 50 on net household flow per 1,000 residents (-2.6). The households arriving report $6,597 less in average income than those leaving ($95,523 against $102,120), so the state is trading down on income even as the headcount shrinks. Texas is both the largest source and the largest destination.
A middle income is squeezed harder here than in most states
A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $59,997 shortfall after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#48 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $12,129 surplus; a retiree couple at a $14,276 surplus. Infant childcare runs $23,071 a year, 48% above the national average.
Every bordering state outranks California
All 3 of California's bordering states rank above its #47; the closest match on the composite is Nevada. Median income among them runs from $81,134 in Nevada to $85,220 in Oregon; California is at $100,149.
Frequently asked questions about living in California
Is California a good place to live?
California ranks #47 of 50 with a D grade, #12 of 13 in the West. It is top 10 in health and bottom 10 in safety, environment, affordability, and growth. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 1 of 6 (income) and trails on home prices, cost of living, violent crime, unemployment, and tax burden. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.
Where does California rank among US states?
California ranks #47 of 50 overall with a composite score of 40.2 (grade D), and #12 of 13 states in the West. Its best category rank is #5 (health) and its worst #50 (growth). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so D means rank 43–48.
Is it expensive to live in California?
At #50 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), California is 11% above the national average: its index is 110.7 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $764,158 (107% above the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $197,262 against a median household income of $100,149. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $59,997 shortfall after all costs, #48 of 50 (1 = most left over).
Does California have a state income tax?
Yes. California's top state income tax rate is 14.4% (#48 of 50, 1 = lowest), and the total state and local tax burden is 11% of income, 2.3 points above the national average. Property tax is 0.71% of home value and combined sales tax 8.99%.
What is the crime rate in California?
California reports 433 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 32% above the national average and #44 of 50 (1 = safest), and 1,792 property crimes per 100,000, 17% above the national average (#40). Its safety score is 54.7 out of 100, #43 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release.
Does California have good schools?
California is #37 of 50 for education (score 51.7 out of 100). Its public school students average 269 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#36) and 254 in eighth-grade reading (#38), and the high school graduation rate is 87%, 1.4 points above the national average (#23). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, San Ramon has the highest graduation rate at 98%.
Why are people leaving California?
California lost a net 100,397 households in the latest IRS release: 252,863 moved in and 353,260 moved out, -2.6 per 1,000 residents (#49 of 50). The largest source of arrivals is Texas (24,970 households) and the most common destination is Texas (44,417). Arriving households report an average income of $95,523 against $102,120 for those leaving, so movers out earn more than movers in. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.
Is California a red or blue state?
California is a solidly blue state: its Cook Partisan Voting Index is D+15, meaning it votes about 15 points more Democratic than the country as a whole. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.
What are the downsides of living in California?
Cost, fire and the gap between paychecks and rents. Housing ranks #49, growth #50, environment #47 on air and disaster exposure. The bill nobody budgets for is home insurance in canyon, foothill or forest zip codes, where carriers have pulled back and the FAIR Plan is the only quote. Add gasoline at $4.42 per gallon and electricity at 32.54 cents per kWh, and a modest income disappears fast.
Is California a good place to retire?
Not on a budget. Retirees rank #49, and a retired couple on $75,000 ends the year at a $14,276 surplus, against a $35,970 surplus in the median state. Social Security escapes state tax; pensions and withdrawals do not. A retiree who owns outright under a decades-old assessment is different: low property tax, mild weather, life expectancy of 79.3 years. The question is whether the house is paid for.
Does California get wildfires and earthquakes?
Both, and the map matters more than the average. Wildfire hits the Sierra foothills, the wine country, and the hills behind Los Angeles and San Diego, worst in late summer and fall. Earthquake risk runs the length of the San Andreas and the Bay Area's Hayward fault. Standard homeowner policies exclude quakes; that coverage is separate. The FEMA index is 56.3, #48 of 50.
Where in California should I live?
Depends on income and whether you need a yard. On a tech or medical salary, the Bay Area or Irvine. For a family needing a house under the coastal price, Fontana, Riverside or Santa Clarita with a commute. On a public-sector paycheck, Sacramento. On a budget with no coastal job, Bakersfield or Fresno, where homes cost a fraction and summer air is the price.
How is the air quality in California?
The worst anywhere by median AQI, 48 against 38.8, but it is a Central Valley and Los Angeles problem more than a statewide one. Fresno, Bakersfield and Modesto sit in a bowl that traps farm dust and truck exhaust; Los Angeles traps ozone against the mountains. The coast from San Francisco to San Diego is clean until a fire upwind puts smoke over it.
Is California cheaper than Arizona?
No. Arizona is cheaper on housing, gasoline, electricity and income tax, and the second most common destination for households leaving. What California offers in return is higher wages, milder summers and the coast. The gap is largest for homeowners and smallest for a renter weighing Phoenix against the Inland Empire.
All the numbers
Every metric behind California's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.