Best Cities for Young Professionals in California
What Young Professionals Should Know About California
California ranks #49 out of 50 for young professionals, suggesting some tradeoffs for career-focused relocators. The state's economy scores 41/100, though with 5.4% unemployment and a median household income of $91,905. Modest population growth of 0.2% suggests a stable but not booming market.
For young professionals, the equation comes down to earning potential versus cost of living. A cost-of-living index of 113 means higher expenses, so salary negotiations need to account for the premium. Growth metrics are moderate, so career advancement may depend more on specific industries than broad market expansion.
Beyond the paycheck, livability matters. California's livability score of 38/100 is modest, which may matter to young professionals who value nightlife, dining, and cultural events. Transportation is car-dependent in most areas (score: 53/100), which is worth factoring into housing location decisions.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Young Professionals
| # | City | Grade | Young Professionals Score | Overall | Economy | Growth | Livability | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Irvine | A | 59.3 | 60.2 | 76 | 52 | 41 | 314,615 |
| 2 | Fremont | B+ | 58.0 | 59.8 | 84 | 43 | 35 | 226,211 |
| 3 | San Francisco | B | 56.1 | 54.6 | 76 | 52 | 40 | 808,988 |
| 4 | San Jose | B | 55.6 | 55.5 | 78 | 54 | 43 | 969,615 |
| 5 | San Diego | B | 53.2 | 54.7 | 65 | 48 | 38 | 1,388,312 |
| 6 | Chula Vista | B | 52.3 | 53.8 | 64 | 48 | 40 | 274,344 |
| 7 | Fontana | B | 51.1 | 53.4 | 60 | 50 | 41 | 215,485 |
| 8 | Santa Ana | C+ | 49.9 | 50.4 | 59 | 53 | 41 | 310,523 |
| 9 | Sacramento | C | 48.7 | 46.8 | 53 | 50 | 41 | 526,383 |
| 10 | Santa Clarita | B | 48.6 | 54.2 | 63 | 33 | 31 | 224,039 |
| 11 | Oakland | D | 46.6 | 43.4 | 58 | 48 | 40 | 436,508 |
| 12 | Anaheim | C | 46.2 | 48.1 | 57 | 46 | 37 | 340,505 |
| 13 | Riverside | C | 45.5 | 46.2 | 54 | 46 | 38 | 318,855 |
| 14 | Bakersfield | D | 42.7 | 43.0 | 41 | 40 | 38 | 413,376 |
| 15 | Los Angeles | D | 42.3 | 44.0 | 43 | 42 | 39 | 3,820,963 |
| 16 | Modesto | D | 41.3 | 42.9 | 40 | 37 | 37 | 218,909 |
| 17 | Long Beach | D | 41.2 | 43.0 | 46 | 34 | 32 | 449,496 |
| 18 | Fresno | D | 40.3 | 41.4 | 35 | 38 | 37 | 545,717 |
| 19 | San Bernardino | F | 37.8 | 38.5 | 38 | 41 | 37 | 223,706 |
| 20 | Stockton | F | 37.5 | 38.5 | 36 | 38 | 38 | 319,537 |