Best overall
Placer County
Overall score 61.9
Economy 74.4 / Affordability 22.5
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in California
Compare counties in California by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 58 California counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in California
Put California counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open California rankings
Open the full California ranking table with filters.
Explore on the map
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
California county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Placer County
Family score 68.9
Schools 82.6 / Safety 92.9
Best value
Modoc County
Value score 60.4
Affordability 65.6 / Taxes 54.7
Most affordable
Modoc County
Affordability 65.6
Typical home $191,781
Best schools
Marin County
Schools 96.4
Safety 43.8 / Economy 71.7
Safest
Yolo County
Safety 96.1
Schools 26.1 / Peace 76.9
Low taxes
Inyo County
Taxes 65.1
Affordability 11.8 / Typical home $529,158
Peace & quiet
Inyo County
Peace & Quiet 94.5
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in California
View full- 1Placer County
Typical home $685,954
61.9
Overall
- 2San Mateo County
Typical home $1,606,596
57.5
Overall
- 3El Dorado County
Typical home $653,106
55
Overall
- 4Marin County
Typical home $1,469,866
54.5
Overall
- 5San Luis Obispo County
Typical home $906,922
52.1
Overall
Best counties for families in California
View full- 1Placer County
Typical home $685,954
68.9
Family
- 2El Dorado County
Typical home $653,106
60.4
Family
- 3Marin County
Typical home $1,469,866
58.8
Family
- 4San Mateo County
Typical home $1,606,596
58.4
Family
- 5San Luis Obispo County
Typical home $906,922
56.6
Family
Best value counties in California
View full- 1Modoc County
Typical home $191,781
60.4
Value
- 2Lassen County
Typical home $231,145
59.1
Value
- 3Colusa County
Typical home $370,445
54.4
Value
- 4Amador County
Typical home $418,138
54.4
Value
- 5Tulare County
Typical home $360,206
54.3
Value
Most affordable counties in California
View full- 1Modoc County
Typical home $191,781
65.6
Afford.
- 2Lassen County
Typical home $231,145
60.9
Afford.
- 3Siskiyou County
Typical home $278,755
46.1
Afford.
- 4Trinity County
Typical home $246,520
45.2
Afford.
- 5Amador County
Typical home $418,138
44
Afford.
Best school counties in California
View full- 1Marin County
Typical home $1,469,866
96.4
Schools
- 2Santa Clara County
Typical home $1,679,213
86.2
Schools
- 3Placer County
Typical home $685,954
82.6
Schools
- 4San Mateo County
Typical home $1,606,596
71.1
Schools
- 5El Dorado County
Typical home $653,106
67.2
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in California
View full- 1Inyo County
Typical home $529,158
65.1
Taxes
- 2Del Norte County
Typical home $366,286
63.1
Taxes
- 3Mariposa County
Typical home $401,079
60.2
Taxes
- 4Glenn County
Typical home $362,263
59.3
Taxes
- 5Tulare County
Typical home $360,206
59.1
Taxes
Quietest counties in California
View full- 1Inyo County
Typical home $529,158
94.5
Quiet
- 2Humboldt County
Typical home $425,013
91.1
Quiet
- 3Shasta County
Typical home $370,888
90.5
Quiet
- 4Colusa County
Typical home $370,445
90.4
Quiet
- 5Del Norte County
Typical home $366,286
90.2
Quiet
Safest counties in California
View full- 1Yolo County
Typical home $622,227
96.1
Safety
- 2Contra Costa County
Typical home $789,908
94.2
Safety
- 3Napa County
Typical home $887,245
93.5
Safety
- 4San Benito County
Typical home $771,496
93.3
Safety
- 5Placer County
Typical home $685,954
92.9
Safety
Popular California county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
How to choose a county in California
The best county in California depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in California
For best overall counties in California, Placer County, San Mateo County, and El Dorado County stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in California
For families, Placer County, El Dorado County, and Marin County score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in California
For affordability-focused movers, Modoc County, Lassen County, and Siskiyou County may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in California
For school-first households, Marin County, Santa Clara County, and Placer County lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in California
For lower tax-pressure searches, Inyo County, Del Norte County, and Mariposa County score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in California
For quieter-living searches, Inyo County, Humboldt County, and Shasta County stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to California
Compare county scale carefully in California; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in California
What is the best county to live in California?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Placer County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in California for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Placer County stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in California?
Modoc County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which California counties score well for schools or taxes?
Marin County currently leads the school-score view, while Inyo County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All California counties
Showing all 58 California counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Placer County FIPS 06061 | 61.9 | 74.4 | 22.5 | 82.6 | 92.9 | 39.4 | 65.9 | $685,954 | $115,998 |
| 2 | San Mateo County FIPS 06081 | 57.5 | 83.6 | 12.1 | 71.1 | 90.2 | 49.1 | 18.7 | $1,606,596 | $158,855 |
| 3 | El Dorado County FIPS 06017 | 55 | 64.7 | 19.8 | 67.2 | 78.9 | 48.7 | 75.3 | $653,106 | $108,845 |
| 4 | Marin County FIPS 06041 | 54.5 | 71.7 | 14.2 | 96.4 | 43.8 | 44.9 | 54.5 | $1,469,866 | $149,091 |
| 5 | San Luis Obispo County FIPS 06079 | 52.1 | 66.8 | 11.6 | 51.2 | 88.4 | 47.7 | 85 | $906,922 | $97,446 |
| 6 | Santa Clara County FIPS 06085 | 51.7 | 77.6 | 13 | 86.2 | 39.3 | 48.9 | 19.9 | $1,679,213 | $164,281 |
| 7 | San Diego County FIPS 06073 | 51.3 | 68.8 | 12.9 | 51.5 | 92.9 | 48 | 36.3 | $941,931 | $106,268 |
| 8 | Alameda County FIPS 06001 | 50 | 67.5 | 14 | 54.9 | 92.2 | 40.2 | 16.1 | $1,086,737 | $129,367 |
| 9 | Contra Costa County FIPS 06013 | 49.8 | 66.2 | 19.3 | 50.7 | 94.2 | 34.2 | 14.3 | $789,908 | $127,229 |
| 10 | Nevada County FIPS 06057 | 48.1 | 62.1 | 14.7 | 39.5 | 85.7 | 41.9 | 78.7 | $611,865 | $89,882 |
| 11 | Sonoma County FIPS 06097 | 47.8 | 69.3 | 14.5 | 28.8 | 88.4 | 43.1 | 69.5 | $792,143 | $104,674 |
| 12 | Napa County FIPS 06055 | 47.7 | 71.4 | 14.2 | 19.2 | 93.5 | 45.3 | 77.6 | $887,245 | $111,471 |
| 13 | Modoc County FIPS 06049 | 46.9 | 36.4 | 65.6 | 8.9 | 67.2 | 54.7 | 82.2 | $191,781 | $59,455 |
| 14 | Orange County FIPS 06059 | 46.9 | 71.5 | 12.5 | 65.3 | 44.5 | 51.9 | 19.7 | $1,194,407 | $116,289 |
| 15 | Shasta County FIPS 06089 | 46.5 | 50.5 | 37.1 | 21.1 | 68.6 | 55.7 | 90.5 | $370,888 | $72,636 |
| 16 | Amador County FIPS 06005 | 46.4 | 51.2 | 44 | 14.1 | 71.8 | 51.6 | 76.1 | $418,138 | $88,044 |
| 17 | Lassen County FIPS 06035 | 46.2 | 35.8 | 60.9 | 9.2 | 70.1 | 52.5 | 87.5 | $231,145 | $67,403 |
| 18 | Sierra County FIPS 06091 | 46.2 | 48 | 31.9 | 18.4 | 87.8 | 54.7 | 78.8 | $328,754 | $63,355 |
| 19 | Santa Barbara County FIPS 06083 | 45.6 | 65.4 | 11.8 | 14.2 | 92.2 | 54 | 83.6 | $994,384 | $98,161 |
| 20 | Mono County FIPS 06051 | 45.4 | 70.6 | 5.3 | 21.2 | 81 | 57.8 | 84.2 | $755,677 | $99,415 |
| 21 | Yolo County FIPS 06113 | 43.6 | 50.8 | 12.6 | 26.1 | 96.1 | 42.4 | 76.9 | $622,227 | $91,752 |
| 22 | Riverside County FIPS 06065 | 43.1 | 58.8 | 15.8 | 16.2 | 90.4 | 47.6 | 58.5 | $608,606 | $93,074 |
| 23 | San Benito County FIPS 06069 | 43.1 | 57.8 | 17 | 12.5 | 93.3 | 37.6 | 82.4 | $771,496 | $114,394 |
| 24 | Tuolumne County FIPS 06109 | 42.6 | 49.5 | 35.7 | 21 | 54.1 | 52.1 | 76.4 | $388,488 | $77,404 |
| 25 | Kings County FIPS 06031 | 42.4 | 37.3 | 34.5 | 7.9 | 86.1 | 57.1 | 85.8 | $364,476 | $70,995 |
| 26 | Tehama County FIPS 06103 | 42.1 | 34 | 41 | 12.2 | 71.1 | 57.6 | 90.1 | $318,464 | $63,784 |
| 27 | Tulare County FIPS 06107 | 42 | 36.3 | 36.3 | 4.2 | 85.5 | 59.1 | 85.7 | $360,206 | $71,300 |
| 28 | Sacramento County FIPS 06067 | 41.8 | 62.8 | 21.4 | 20.7 | 71.6 | 48.8 | 19.5 | $530,243 | $92,175 |
| 29 | San Bernardino County FIPS 06071 | 41.8 | 55.3 | 13.6 | 10.5 | 88.1 | 54 | 77.2 | $551,491 | $85,478 |
| 30 | Siskiyou County FIPS 06093 | 41.6 | 31.5 | 46.1 | 13.2 | 63.8 | 55.6 | 89.4 | $278,755 | $59,095 |
| 31 | Sutter County FIPS 06101 | 41.5 | 39.5 | 29 | 15.2 | 83.1 | 49.4 | 79.6 | $438,591 | $79,704 |
| 32 | Colusa County FIPS 06011 | 41.4 | 35.3 | 39.1 | 3.6 | 78 | 58.8 | 90.4 | $370,445 | $75,672 |
| 33 | Fresno County FIPS 06019 | 40.8 | 37.7 | 28 | 13.2 | 82.6 | 53 | 81.3 | $409,962 | $74,201 |
| 34 | Mariposa County FIPS 06043 | 40.6 | 44.7 | 25.1 | 24.2 | 56.2 | 60.2 | 76.4 | $401,079 | $68,412 |
| 35 | Stanislaus County FIPS 06099 | 39.8 | 41.7 | 24.9 | 8.6 | 86.6 | 53 | 62 | $467,166 | $81,468 |
| 36 | Ventura County FIPS 06111 | 39.2 | 65.3 | 15.7 | 24.4 | 41 | 49.2 | 60 | $885,254 | $109,797 |
| 37 | Santa Cruz County FIPS 06087 | 39.1 | 52.8 | 11.8 | 18.4 | 78.6 | 50.1 | 48.4 | $1,149,400 | $111,093 |
| 38 | San Joaquin County FIPS 06077 | 39 | 50.6 | 22.3 | 6 | 83.8 | 48.4 | 44 | $532,711 | $92,179 |
| 39 | Trinity County FIPS 06105 | 38.8 | 37.3 | 45.2 | 28.7 | 22.2 | 51.5 | 78.5 | $246,520 | $53,002 |
| 40 | Alpine County FIPS 06003 | 38.7 | 45.3 | 30.3 | 28.6 | 41.6 | 41.9 | 72.5 | $514,117 | $105,521 |
| 41 | Madera County FIPS 06039 | 38.4 | 39.4 | 28.9 | 5.2 | 70.2 | 56.9 | 82.2 | $425,121 | $76,627 |
| 42 | Monterey County FIPS 06053 | 38 | 45.8 | 12.1 | 3.9 | 90.3 | 51.8 | 81.2 | $849,201 | $97,230 |
| 43 | Butte County FIPS 06007 | 37.6 | 37.7 | 21.9 | 11.5 | 75.7 | 48.5 | 84.3 | $402,207 | $67,928 |
| 44 | Calaveras County FIPS 06009 | 37.6 | 45.7 | 29.7 | 13.3 | 52.6 | 47.7 | 69.4 | $433,276 | $78,647 |
| 45 | Los Angeles County FIPS 06037 | 37.6 | 49 | 12.5 | 16.6 | 89.2 | 46.8 | 16.4 | $888,345 | $90,112 |
| 46 | Inyo County FIPS 06027 | 37.3 | 55.7 | 11.8 | 9 | 49.5 | 65.1 | 94.5 | $529,158 | $73,991 |
| 47 | Plumas County FIPS 06063 | 37.3 | 42.1 | 28 | 25.6 | 35.1 | 53.1 | 82 | $362,743 | $66,031 |
| 48 | Yuba County FIPS 06115 | 36.8 | 41.1 | 31.2 | 9.3 | 53.4 | 50.4 | 76.6 | $418,797 | $76,373 |
| 49 | San Francisco County FIPS 06075 | 36.3 | 70 | 8.9 | 44.3 | 18.5 | 42.7 | 13.7 | $1,357,007 | $140,970 |
| 50 | Humboldt County FIPS 06023 | 36.1 | 41.6 | 16.6 | 12.9 | 63.2 | 49.5 | 91.1 | $425,013 | $61,160 |
| 51 | Lake County FIPS 06033 | 36 | 32.7 | 40.6 | 2.5 | 56.5 | 49.1 | 75.5 | $305,226 | $60,621 |
| 52 | Merced County FIPS 06047 | 36 | 36.6 | 18.6 | 5.3 | 78.7 | 55.3 | 77 | $418,062 | $65,510 |
| 53 | Imperial County FIPS 06025 | 35.3 | 32 | 14.8 | 5.5 | 84.4 | 54.4 | 87.5 | $378,175 | $57,681 |
| 54 | Del Norte County FIPS 06015 | 35 | 40 | 33 | 4.4 | 33.7 | 63.1 | 90.2 | $366,286 | $67,058 |
| 55 | Glenn County FIPS 06021 | 34.5 | 32 | 30.7 | 3.1 | 51.9 | 59.3 | 89.8 | $362,263 | $67,139 |
| 56 | Mendocino County FIPS 06045 | 34 | 42.2 | 13.1 | 3.7 | 70.9 | 44 | 88.3 | $489,567 | $68,092 |
| 57 | Solano County FIPS 06095 | 34 | 62.1 | 23 | 14.5 | 19.7 | 43.9 | 49 | $577,138 | $100,401 |
| 58 | Kern County FIPS 06029 | 33.6 | 33.9 | 35.6 | 4.8 | 43.9 | 44.9 | 84.2 | $363,091 | $70,210 |