California Area Profiles
25 published city profiles across California, each built from the same authoritative sources and compared on the same terms.
Statewide signals
Opportunity38th of 51 states42
Growth36th of 51 states43
Housing affordability50th of 51 states49
ClimateTop 32% of 51 states70
Physical resilience51st of 51 states11
AccessTop 36% of 51 states79
Economic stabilityTop 38% of 51 states60
Cities
| City | Population | Opportunity | Growth | Area Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 3,857,263 | 41 | 52 | 50 |
| San Diego | 1,389,526 | 66 | 51 | 53 |
| San Jose | 990,138 | 75 | 62 | 64 |
| San Francisco | 830,235 | 70 | 33 | 60 |
| Fresno | 545,970 | 44 | 52 | 50 |
| Sacramento | 528,706 | 54 | 59 | 65 |
| Long Beach | 455,548 | 40 | 24 | 47 |
| Oakland | 439,418 | 54 | 47 | 57 |
| Bakersfield | 411,986 | 47 | 60 | 55 |
| Anaheim | 344,521 | 59 | 13 | 48 |
| Stockton | 322,326 | 33 | 23 | 48 |
| Riverside | 319,069 | 51 | 54 | 53 |
| Santa Ana | 312,534 | 59 | 38 | 55 |
| Irvine | 311,690 | 66 | 53 | 57 |
| Chula Vista | 276,375 | 58 | 56 | 52 |
| Santa Clarita | 230,221 | 45 | 20 | 50 |
| Fremont | 228,295 | 62 | 43 | 62 |
| San Bernardino | 222,724 | 33 | 43 | 47 |
| Modesto | 219,215 | 36 | 62 | 52 |
| Fontana | 214,169 | 54 | 57 | 57 |
| Moreno Valley | 211,666 | 41 | 34 | 48 |
| Oxnard | 200,928 | 44 | 12 | 47 |
| Huntington Beach | 195,240 | 64 | 32 | 55 |
| Glendale | 190,748 | 42 | 22 | 46 |
| Ontario | 180,547 | — | — | — |
Strongest opportunity
- San Jose 75
- San Francisco 70
- Irvine 66
- San Diego 66
- Huntington Beach 64
Fastest development
- San Jose 62
- Modesto 62
- Bakersfield 60
- Sacramento 59
- Fontana 57
Statewide physical risk
EarthquakeHigh
Inland floodingElevated
WildfireElevated
Heat waveModerate
DroughtModerate
Low or minimal exposure: landslide, lightning, hail, tornado, coastal flooding, strong wind, avalanche, winter weather, tsunami, volcanic activity, cold wave, hurricane.
Population-weighted across every county in California, derived from the FEMA National Risk Index. Exposure varies substantially within a state — check the individual city and ZIP profiles.
Statewide data
| Metric | Value | Compared with peers | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average household size ±0.01 | 2.84 | Top 4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Households ±17,724 | 13,548,091 | Top 1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age ±0.1 | 37.9 | Bottom 22% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population | 39,287,377 | Top 1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 252/sq mi | Top 24% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Home price to income | 7.41 | Top 2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 55.9% | Bottom 4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units ±1,665 | 14,644,735 | Top 1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent ±$5 | $2,036 | Top 1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value ±$1,307 | $734,700 | Top 4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Rent as a share of income | 24.6% | Top 4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Vacancy rate | 7.5% | Bottom 6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income ±$310 | $99,122 | Top 10% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income ±$168 | $49,513 | Top 20% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.0% | Top 45% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | Top 10% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.1% | Top 29% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Employment | 18,336,169 | Top 1% | July 2026 |
| Employment change (3 years) | -1.4% | Bottom 30% | July 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | Bottom 28% | July 2026 |
| Labor force | 19,360,373 | Top 1% | July 2026 |
| Labor force participation | 63.8% | Top 47% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment change (year over year) | -0.6% | Bottom 12% | July 2026 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | Top 12% | July 2026 |